Fetal alcohol syndrome

 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a diagnosis that is included in FASD and is characterised by physical defects and disabilities, the main features being cranio-facial abnormalities, prenatal and/or postnatal growth deficiency, and evidence of damage or dysfunction of the central nervous system. The consequences of FAS are lifelong.

 

Did you know?
FAS was first identified in the 1970’s.
It is a preventable condition.
Data from the Western Australian Birth Defects Registry suggest a birth prevalence of 0.18 per 1,000 live births:

• 0.02 per 1,000 non-Indigenous live births
• 2.76 per 1,000 Indigenous live births.

In 2007, we distributed alcohol and pregnancy information packs to over 3,500 health professionals in WA. These packs will support their knowledge and advice to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age about alcohol use during pregnancy. An evaluation of the pack commenced with 1,900 health professionals with results expected in 2008.

 

We also asked West Australian women about their knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding alcohol use in pregnancy. Five hundred women aged between 18 and 45 years of age were surveyed. One third of women were not aware of the consequences on the fetus and child of drinking alcohol in pregnancy and a quarter of them would continue to drink alcohol in a future pregnancy. The majority of women agreed that information about the effects on the fetus of alcohol during pregnancy should be available to women and that health professionals should ask women about alcohol consumption and advise them to abstain during pregnancy. These results will be used for future health promotion programs for women.