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 2000‐2004.
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 (socioeconomic advantage, urbanicity) characteristics.
Findings
Women with MDUI convictions had higher odds of maternal, infant and child mortality than propensity matched controls (OR=2.65, 95% 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.