Association between preventive health management and high-risk drinking among women of childbearing age: a correlational study of the ninth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of high-risk drinking among women of childbearing age and to identify factors associated with high-risk drinking. METHODS: Data were obtained from the first (2022) and second (2023) years of the ninth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study sample comprised 2,101 women of childbearing age (19-49 years). Data were analyzed using complex sample analysis to appropriately account for population weights, survey clustering, and stratified sampling. RESULTS: Among respondents, 9.5% were classified as high-risk drinkers. Significant differences in alcohol consumption were observed according to education level, employment status, skipping breakfast in the past 2 days, physical activity intensity, perceived stress level, smoking status, and dental check-up status. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, education level (odds ratio [OR]=1.26, p=.015), employment status (OR=1.44, p=.045), skipping breakfast in the past 2 days (OR=1.81, p<.001), smoking status (OR=4.20, p<.001), and dental check-up status (OR=1.70, p=.002) remained significantly associated with high-risk drinking. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to reduce high-risk drinking among women of childbearing age. Healthcare providers may use these findings to design interventions that strengthen preventive health behaviors, promote regular meal patterns, support smoking cessation, and encourage routine dental check-ups. Public health practitioners may also utilize these results to develop programs that promote healthy lifestyle practices in this population. Further research is needed to refine and enhance intervention strategies.