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Estimated Number of Preterm Births and Low Birth Weight Children Born in the United States Due to Maternal Binge Drinking

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the aggregate burden of maternal binge drinking on preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) across American sociodemographic groups in 2008. To estimate the aggregate burden of maternal binge drinking on preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) across American sociodemographic groups in 2008. A simulation model was developed to estimate the number of PTB and LBW cases due to maternal binge drinking. Data inputs for the model included number of births and rates of preterm and LBW from the National Center for Health Statistics; female population by childbearing age groups from the U.S. Census; increased relative risks of preterm and LBW deliveries due to maternal binge drinking extracted from the literature; and adjusted prevalence of binge drinking among pregnant women estimated in a multivariate logistic regression model using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The most conservative estimates attributed maternal binge drinking to 8,701 (95 % CI: 7,804–9,598) PTBs (1.75 % of all PTBs) and 5,627 (95 % CI 5,121–6,133) LBW deliveries in 2008, with 3,708 (95 % CI: 3,375–4,041) cases of both PTB and LBW. The estimated rate of PTB due to maternal binge drinking was 1.57 % among all PTBs to White women, 0.69 % among Black women, 3.31 % among Hispanic women, and 2.35 % among other races. Compared to other age groups, women ages 40–44 had the highest adjusted binge drinking rate and highest PTB rate due to maternal binge drinking (4.33 %). Maternal binge drinking contributed significantly to PTB and LBW differentially across sociodemographic groups.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (grant R21AA017265) and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (grant 1R01MD004251-01). Additional funding was provided by an internal grant from College of Health, Education and Human Development at Clemson University. We have no conflicts of interest relating to this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, 529 Edwards Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Khoa D. Truong, Odette S. Reifsnider & Hugh Spitler

  2. Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, 110 Freeman Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634-0920, USA

    Maria E. Mayorga

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  1. Khoa D. Truong
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Correspondence to Khoa D. Truong.

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Truong, K.D., Reifsnider, O.S., Mayorga, M.E. et al. Estimated Number of Preterm Births and Low Birth Weight Children Born in the United States Due to Maternal Binge Drinking. Matern Child Health J 17, 677–688 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1048-1

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