Some research suggests that the prevalence of heavy drinking among Latinas of childbearing age may be increasing.
This study examined the prevalence of and risk factors for alcohol consumption during pregnancy among 100 low-income pregnant Latinas.
Three months before recognizing they were pregnant, 43 percent of subjects had consumed some alcohol, 20 percent had consumed 4 or more drinks on an occasion at least once (bingeing), and 5 percent had consumed 7 or more drinks per week.
In multivariable analyses, speaking English and acculturation were significant predictors of any alcohol use in the three months before subjects recognized they were pregnant.
Knowledge about fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and/or awareness of messages warning about alcohol use during pregnancy were associated with increased (not decreased) odds of any alcohol use or bingeing in the three months before pregnancy recognition.
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