Addiction. 2019 Nov;114(11):1981-1991. doi: 10.1111/add.14762. Epub 2019 Aug 22.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: To assess whether having multiple convictions for driving while under the influence of alcohol (MDUI) in women is a risk factor for maternal, infant and child mortality.
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort design using record linkage, comparing women with MDUI convictions with propensity-matched women without alcohol-related driving offences ascertained through state records, on rates of maternal, infant and child mortality.
SETTING: Missouri, United States.
PARTICIPANTS: MDUI women (n = 1658) and women with no alcohol-related driving convictions (control, n = 184 252) who gave birth from 2000 to 2004.
MEASUREMENTS: Data were obtained from state administrative records and US Census data. The outcomes were maternal, infant and child mortality. The input variable was presence or absence of MDUI convictions. Propensity-matching variables were maternal (smoking during pregnancy, delayed prenatal care, previous child deaths, age at birth, mother Missouri-born, education, pre-pregnancy obesity, marital status), reproductive partner (un-named partner, race/ethnicity, education, DUI status) and census tract (socio-economic advantage, urbanicity) characteristics.
FINDINGS: Women with MDUI convictions had higher odds of maternal, infant and child mortality than propensity-matched controls [odds ratio (OR) = 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.07-3.40 and OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.17-2.61, respectively].
CONCLUSIONS: Having multiple convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol in women appears to be a risk factor for increased maternal, infant and child mortality.
PMID:31351443 | PMC:PMC6800795 | DOI:10.1111/add.14762