Alcohol consumption during pregnancy among Southern city women

As national survey data on American drinking practices have suggested a higher rate of heavy drinking among Southern city women compared to women in other regions, this study sought to determine drinking patterns during pregnancy in this group. A consecutive sample of 428 prenatal patients, who were residents of a Southern metropolitan area, were interviewed during the fourth month prenatal clinic visit. Although close to 50% of this sample were abstainers, 11% of the drinkers were found to be heavy drinkers, averaging more than two drinks daily, while 18% were high-maximum drinkers, consuming at least five drinks on an occasion prior to pregnancy. Forty-eight percent of the drinkers had become abstainers during the first 4 months of pregnancy, which was significantly higher than the 35% found in a representative non-Southern population (P less than 0.01). More frequent high-maximum drinking and increased drinking during pregnancy, both of which are potentially risky drinking practices for fetal outcome, were found primarily among blacks and those 14-19 years of age. The large proportion of both blacks (85%) and those 14-19 (33%) in this sample may put this population at high risk for adverse fetal outcomes related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.