Inconsistent Report of Pre-Pregnancy-Recognition Alcohol Use by Latinas

Objective This study compared pregnant Latinas’ report of alcohol use for the 3-month period before pregnancy recognition with two different methods of data collection, in an attempt to identify opportunities for improved screening. Methods Data were collected for 53 pregnant Latinas who have ever drunk alcohol and who were receiving services at Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics in San Diego, California. This study compared alcohol use reported during in-depth research interviews conducted in homes, to responses to an alcohol screening question administered by WIC staff. Results Latinas were more likely to report alcohol use for the 3-month period before pregnancy recognition at the in-depth home interview than their reported date of last drink to the WIC clinic would indicate (70% vs. 15%, respectively). Of importance, 57% of home interview reports that were positive for pre-pregnancy-recognition alcohol use would not have been identified by their reported date of last drink to the WIC screening question. Younger age, higher income, and earlier recognition of pregnancy were associated with under-reporting of pre-pregnancy-recognition alcohol use. Conclusions Reporting of pre-pregnancy-recognition alcohol use may be influenced by the circumstances and scope of the screening questions employed, and varies by respondent’s characteristics. Asking about pre-pregnancy-recognition alcohol use, i.e., alcohol consumed before pregnancy is recognized, may improve identification of low-income pregnant Latinas who may benefit from targeted intervention services.

目的 本研究通过两种不同的数据收集方法，比较了拉丁裔孕妇在确认怀孕前3个月的饮酒情况报告，试图找出改进筛查的机会。方法 收集了53名曾经饮酒且正在加利福尼亚州圣地亚哥的妇女、婴儿和儿童（WIC）诊所接受服务的拉丁裔孕妇的数据。本研究将在家中进行的深入研究访谈期间报告的饮酒情况与对WIC工作人员提出的酒精筛查问题的回答进行了比较。结果 在深入的家庭访谈中，拉丁裔孕妇更有可能报告在确认怀孕前3个月的饮酒情况，而不是像她们向WIC诊所报告的最后饮酒日期所显示的那样（分别为70%对15%）。重要的是，57%在家庭访谈中报告在确认怀孕前饮酒的情况，根据她们向WIC筛查问题报告的最后饮酒日期是无法确定的。年龄较小、收入较高以及更早确认怀孕与少报确认怀孕前的饮酒情况有关。结论 确认怀孕前饮酒情况的报告可能受到所采用的筛查问题的情况和范围的影响，并因受访者的特征而异。询问确认怀孕前的饮酒情况，即确认怀孕前饮用的酒精，可能会提高对可能受益于有针对性的干预服务的低收入拉丁裔孕妇的识别。