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- Title
Prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in a population-based sample of children living in remote Australia: The Lililwan.
- Authors
Fitzpatrick, James P; Latimer, Jane; Carter, Maureen; Oscar, June; Ferreira, Manuela L; Carmichael Olson, Heather; Lucas, Barbara R; Doney, Robyn; Salter, Claire; Try, Julianne; Hawkes, Genevieve; Fitzpatrick, Emily; Hand, Marmingee; Watkins, Rochelle E; Martiniuk, Alexandra LC; Bower, Carol; Boulton, John; Elliott, Elizabeth J
- Abstract
Aim Aboriginal leaders concerned about high rates of alcohol use in pregnancy invited researchers to determine the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome ( FAS) and partial fetal alcohol syndrome ( pFAS) in their communities. Methods Population-based prevalence study using active case ascertainment in children born in 2002/2003 and living in the Fitzroy Valley, in Western Australia ( April 2010- November 2011) ( n = 134). Socio-demographic and antenatal data, including alcohol use in pregnancy, were collected by interview with 127/134 (95%) consenting parents/care givers. Maternal/child medical records were reviewed. Interdisciplinary assessments were conducted for 108/134 (81%) children. FAS/pFAS prevalence was determined using modified Canadian diagnostic guidelines. Results In 127 pregnancies, alcohol was used in 55%. FAS or pFAS was diagnosed in 13/108 children, a prevalence of 120 per 1000 (95% confidence interval 70-196). Prenatal alcohol exposure was confirmed for all children with FAS/pFAS, 80% in the first trimester and 50% throughout pregnancy. Ten of 13 mothers had Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores and all drank at a high-risk level. Of children with FAS/pFAS, 69% had microcephaly, 85% had weight deficiency and all had facial dysmorphology and central nervous system abnormality/impairment in three to eight domains. Conclusions The population prevalence of FAS/pFAS in remote Aboriginal communities of the Fitzroy Valley is the highest reported in Australia and similar to that reported in high-risk populations internationally. Results are likely to be generalisable to other age groups in the Fitzroy Valley and other remote Australian communities with high-risk alcohol use during pregnancy. Prevention of FAS/pFAS is an urgent public health challenge.
- Subjects
AUSTRALIA; FETAL alcohol syndrome; DISEASE prevalence; ALCOHOL use in pregnancy; SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC factors; CENTRAL nervous system physiology; CHILDREN; ABORIGINAL Australian leadership
- Publication
Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 2015, Vol 51, Issue 4, p450
- ISSN
1034-4810
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jpc.12814