The best magazine
Prenatal exposure to alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects, mental retardation, and neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States . One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to increase the percentage of pregnant women abstaining from alcohol to 94% (2). During 1991--1995, alcohol use by pregnant women increased substantially, and alcohol use by nonpregnant women of childbearing age increased slightly . To characterize trends in alcohol use among women of childbearing age, CDC analyzed representative survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) during 1991--1999. This report summarizes the results of the analysis, which indicate that the rate of any alcohol use (i.e., at least one drink) during pregnancy has declined since 1995. However, rates of binge drinking (i.e.,
5 drinks on any one occasion) and frequent drinking (i.e.,
7 drinks per week or
5 drinks on any one occasion) during pregnancy have not declined among nonpregnant women of childbearing age. Health-care providers should routinely screen women of childbearing age for alcohol use and counsel them about the adverse effects of alcohol use during pregnancy.
BRFSS is an ongoing, state-based, random-digit--dialed telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population aged
18 years. Data were analyzed for women aged 18--44 years in all 50 states. Women were asked about their use of alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey. Three alcohol drinking patterns were examined: any use, binge drinking, and frequent drinking. Information on alcohol use was obtained every year through 1993 and every other year thereafter.
Sample data were weighted to reflect general population estimates, and standard errors were calculated by using SUDAAN. Linear regression models were used to examine temporal trends. To determine statistical significance, the inverse of the variance estimates was used for weights. Multivariate logistic analysis was conducted to examine the age, race, education level, employment, and marital status of pregnant and nonpregnant women by patterns of alcohol use. Because of the limited number of pregnant women surveyed, data were combined for 1995--1999 for the analysis of the characteristics of pregnant women who engaged in these risk behaviors.
During 1995--1999, a total of 4,695 (4.3%) of the 107,141 women aged 18--44 years who were interviewed about their alcohol use during the month preceding the survey reported that they were pregnant at the time of the interview. The prevalence of any alcohol use among pregnant women increased from 12.4% in 1991 to 16.3 % in 1995 (Figure 1) . Compared with 1995 data, prevalence was lower in 1997 (11.4%) and 1999 (12.8%). In contrast, the rates of binge drinking and frequent drinking reported by pregnant women in 1995 remained substantially unchanged in 1997 and 1999: binge drinking rates were 2.9% in 1995, 1.8% in 1997, and 2.7% in 1999, and frequent alcohol use rates were 3.5% in 1995, 2.1% in 1997, and 3.3% in 1999. Among nonpregnant women who reported any alcohol use (Figure 2), rates remained stable: 53.2% in 1995, 52.8% in 1997, and 53.3% in 1999. Binge drinking rates among this population were 11.2% in 1995, 10.8% in 1997, and 12.3% in 1999.
(Enlarge Image)
(Enlarge Image)
In comparison with other pregnant women, pregnant women who reported any alcohol use, binge drinking, and frequent drinking were more likely to be aged >30 years, employed, and unmarried (Table 1). Nonpregnant women who reported any alcohol use, binge drinking, and frequent drinking had similar employment and marital status as pregnant women. In addition, nonpregnant women reporting any alcohol use were more likely to be white and to have higher education levels than women who did not engage in this behavior; nonpregnant women who reported binge drinking and frequent drinking tended to be aged <30 years.
Reported by: JS Sidhu, MD, RL Floyd, DSN, Div of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC.
Source: ...