This study was conducted to examine differences and similarities in alcohol consumption among different subpopulations of women in California and to explore relationships between alcohol consumption and key health behaviors and attitudes. The presentation describes the results of an analysis of alcohol consumption questions in the California Women's Health Survey, a statewide annual survey of over 4,000 women coordinated by the Office of Women's Health, California Department of Health Services. Results of the 1997 survey suggest that 1.4 percent of women were at risk for chronic drinking and close to 6 percent were at risk for acute drinking. African American women appeared to have a slightly increased risk for chronic and acute drinking than White women. United States born Latinas were at greater risk for acute drinking and foreign born Latinas were significantly less at risk for acute drinking than White women. The author discusses the importance of understanding the role of acculturation in alcohol consumption as well as implications for addressing the relationship of alcohol consumption to other health behaviors and beliefs.
Learning Objectives: 1) Describe differences and similarities in alcohol consumption among California women by race and ethnicity, including differences between foreign-born and U.S. born Latinas. 2) Identify health-related attitudes and behaviors among women at low and high risk for chronic or acute drinking
Keywords: Alcohol, Women's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.