Demographic Variables
In a descriptive analysis, we addressed a series of questions concerning demographic
factors related to infants who were exposed to alcohol in utero. The primary question was
to determine demographic characteristics of infants exposed to alcohol in utero.
Poverty. The percentage of children living below the poverty level in the ECLS-B data-
base was 23% at the 9-month data collection, which corresponded to national rates of pov-
erty in 2001 (U.S. Census, 2004). The percentages of mothers living below the poverty
level were as follows: 23.0% for the did not drink category, 14.8% for less than one drink
per week, 14.1% for one to three drinks per week, and 6.3% for four or more drinks per
week. Essentially, higher levels of alcohol consumption among the groups were associated
with lower percentages of poverty in the ECLS-B sample.
Race/ethnicity. Table 1 shows the percentages of children by racial group who were
exposed to four levels of weekly alcohol consumption during the last 3 months of preg-
nancy. White women were overrepresented at higher prenatal drinking levels, except no
drinking per week. Whereas 54.0% of women in the sample were White, 82.1% of 4 drinks
or more per week and 58.8% of 7–13 drinks per week were White. Blacks (14.0% of the
sample) were also overrepresented in the 7–13 group, with 31.6% drinking in that category.
The Hispanic, Asian, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander groups were underrepresented
at all levels of alcohol consumption. Native Americans were overrepresented only at the 4–6
and 7–13 levels. The multiracial group was overrepresented at the 4–6 level.
Gender. In the did not drink comparison category, 51% of the child population was male.
In < 1 drink per week group, the ratio was skewed, with 61% of the population male and
39% female. In the 1–3 drinks per week group, the ratio was slightly skewed, with 54%
male and 46% female. Finally, in the 4 or more drinks per week group, the ratio was
skewed, with 36.5% of the population male and 63.5% female.
Infant Development, Behavior, and Parent–Child Interaction
We addressed a series of questions about infants’ development, behavior, and parent–
child interaction. The primary questions were as follows: What are the developmental,
motor, and behavioral profiles of infants exposed to alcohol in utero? and What are the
parent–child interaction profiles of infants exposed to alcohol in utero?