Replication of High Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevalence Rates, Child Characteristics, and Maternal Risk Factors in a Second Sample of Rural Communities in South Africa

Philip A. May, Marlene M. De Vries, Anna-Susan Marais, Wendy O. Kalberg, David Buckley, Colleen M. Adnams, Julie M. Hasken, Barbara Tabachnick, Luther K. Robinson, Melanie A. Manning, Heidre Bezuidenhout, Margaret P. Adam, Kenneth L. Jones, Soraya Seedat, Charles D.H. Parry and H. Eugene Hoyme
Additional contact information
Philip A. May: Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 28081, USA
Marlene M. De Vries: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa
Anna-Susan Marais: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa
Wendy O. Kalberg: Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
David Buckley: Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Colleen M. Adnams: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Julie M. Hasken: Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 28081, USA
Barbara Tabachnick: Emerita of Psychology, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA 91330, USA
Luther K. Robinson: Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA
Melanie A. Manning: Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Heidre Bezuidenhout: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa
Margaret P. Adam: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Kenneth L. Jones: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Soraya Seedat: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa
Charles D.H. Parry: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa
H. Eugene Hoyme: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Background : Prevalence and characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and total fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) were studied in a second sample of three South African rural communities to assess change. Methods : Active case ascertainment focused on children with height, weight and/or head circumference ?25th centile and randomly-selected children. Final diagnoses were based on dysmorphology, neurobehavioral scores, and maternal risk interviews. Results : Cardinal facial features, head circumference, and total dysmorphology scores differentiated specific FASD diagnostic categories in a somewhat linear fashion but all FASD traits were significantly worse than those of randomly-selected controls. Neurodevelopmental delays were significantly worse for children with FASD than controls. Binge alcohol use was clearly documented as the proximal maternal risk factor for FASD, and significant distal risk factors were: low body mass, education, and income; high gravidity, parity, and age at birth of the index child. FAS rates continue to extremely high in these communities at 89–129 per 1000 children. Total FASD affect 196–276 per 1000 or 20–28% of the children in these communities. Conclusions : Very high rates of FASD persist in these general populations where regular, heavy drinking, often in a binge fashion, co-occurs with low socioeconomic conditions.

Keywords: fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD); microcephaly; prenatal alcohol use; binge drinking; alcohol abuse; maternal risk for FASD; prevalence; children with FASD; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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