The use of preventive healthcare by Canadian women who drink alcohol

Background Despite established links among heavy alcohol consumption, other poor health behaviors, and poor health status, no Canadian study has specifically addressed the relationship between drinking and the use of preventive healthcare services. This study examines the relationship between drinking and female-specific preventive health service use through a secondary analysis of the 1996–1997 NPHS. Methods Recent use of Pap smears and mammograms was examined in relation to current alcohol consumption, using multivariate logistic regression (weighted n = 25,095). Results In general, there was a trend toward greater odds of recent service use among light and moderate drinkers than among heavy drinkers and lifetime abstainers. However, only moderate drinkers were significantly (P < 0.01) more likely than abstainers to have recently had a Pap smear. Conclusions The trend toward lower use of preventive services by heavy drinkers is concerning considering the established harmful effects of prolonged alcohol consumption on health and the tendency for multiple risk behaviors to cluster together in the same individuals. Early detection of departures from good health may alleviate the elevated use of healthcare services among those diagnosed with alcohol use disorders.