Elevated maternal and child mortality among women with multiple DUI convictions compared with socio‐demographically matched controls

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.