m o n i t o r i n g   a l c o h o l   u s e   a m o n g   w o m e n   o f   ch i l d   b e a r i n g   a g e

CDC monitors the prevalence of alcohol use among women of childbearing age in the U.S. using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of individuals, 18 years of age and older. Data from BRFSS are important for monitoring alcohol-use patterns in women of childbearing age to assess and inform public health efforts to reduce these risk behaviors. These findings also help in developing strategies to identify populations that are risk drinkers and in designing prevention programs to improve pregnancy outcomes. To determine the numbers of women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy, data from the BRFSS are analyzed for women aged 18-44 years in all 50 states. Women are asked about their use of alcohol during the 30 days before the survey. Three alcohol drinking patterns are examined: any alcohol use (one or more drinks), binge drinking (5 or more drinks on any one occasion), and frequent drinking (7 or more drinks per week or binge drinking).

CDC Publications on Alcohol Use Among Women of Childbearing Age using BRFSS Data

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alcohol consumption among women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant - United States, 2002.
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2004;53(50):1178-1181

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alcohol use among childbearing-age women---United States, 1991--1999 [published erratum appears in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;51(14):308].
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;51:273-276.

Ebrahim S, Decoufle P, Palakthodi AS.
Combined tobacco and alcohol use by pregnant and reproductive-aged women in the U.S. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2000;96:767-771.

Ebrahim SH, Diekman ST, Decoufle P, Tully M, Floyd RL.
Pregnancy-related alcohol use among women in the United States, 1988 through 1995.
Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine 1999;4:39-46.

Ebrahim SH, Diekman ST, Floyd RL, Decoufle P.
Comparison of binge drinking among pregnant and nonpregnant women, United States, 1991-1995.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1999;180:1-7.

Ebrahim SH, Luman ET, Floyd RL, Murphy CC, Bennett EM, Boyle CA.
Alcohol consumption by pregnant women in the United States during 1988-1995.
Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998;92:187-192.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alcohol consumption among pregnant and childbearing age women -- United States, 1991 and 1995.
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1997;46(16):346-350.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Frequent alcohol consumption among women of childbearing age, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1991.
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1994;43:328-329, 335.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prevalence and characteristics of alcohol consumption and fetal alcohol syndrome awareness -- Alaska, 1991 and 1993.
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1994;43:3-6.

Alcohol Use Data Links
CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System – This telephone survey tracks national and state-specific health risk behaviors of adults, 18 years and older, in the United States. The BRFSS is administered and supported by the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

National Household Survey on Drug Abuse – This survey provides information on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use and abuse in the general U.S. population, 12 years and older. It is conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies (OAS).