PERINATAL DRUG-USE AMONG IMMIGRANT AND NATIVE-BORN LATINAS

Perinatal drug exposures pose a significant health hazard for women an d imperil normal fetal and neonatal development. Little is known about patterns of drug exposure among pregnant immigrant and native-born La tinas in the United States. We present multivariate risk factor analys es for alcohol and illicit drug use from the California Perinatal Subs tance Exposure Study using a statistical probability sample (N = 11,00 2) of Latinas who were tested anonymously using urine toxicology scree ning techniques. Alcohol use during pregnancy was pervasive among both immigrant and United States-born Latinas (7%) with little variation o n risk factors. Illicit drug use was found primarily in a high risk gr oup of United States-born Latinas between 25 and 34 years of age who r eceived no prenatal care (prevalence 50%, odds ratio of 185). Increase d general awareness of perinatal alcohol risk by medical providers and public health practitioners serving this population is needed. The po tential isolation of United States-born Latinas who are at risk for us ing illicit drugs during pregnancy requires effective communication an d outreach.