African Perspective of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Running head: FOETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER
African Perspective of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Name of the Student
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Author Note

FOETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER
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Introduction
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the cumulative condition observed in an
individual whose mother is addicted to alcohol during her pregnancy. This condition may
affect the child by means of affecting the appearance of the individual, shortening the height
of the individual. Along with this, the children also may have poor intelligence levels, poor
cognitive levels and problem in hearing and vision. It is reported that, in the Western Cape
province of Africa, the prevalence of FASD in that sector, was approximately 17 to 23 per
cent and the prevalence of FAS among the school aged children ranged from 5.9 per cent to
7.9 per cent 1.
This study discusses the African perspective or viewpoint regarding the FASD. A
brief literature review and methodology are used to understand the condition of the disease in
Africa.
Literature Review
The condition of the FASD is one of the major concerns for the various countries of
Africa and in various studies, the prevalence of this disease was identified. Foetal alcohol
syndrome and its less severe consequences of the maternal drinking is collectively referred to
as the FASD and in most of the regions of Africa, this condition is referred to as an epidemic
condition due to the severe nature of the disease. In Southern region of Africa, it is reported
that, the prevalence of this disease had enhanced in a great manner in a last few decades. In
South Africa, it is reported that, approximately 40.5 and 119.4 person per 1000 population are
affected by FASD in last decade. While analysing the condition of the Western Cape, it was
1 Mattson, Sarah N., Scott C. Roesch, Leila Glass, Benjamin N. Deweese, Claire D. Coles, Julie A. Kable, Philip
A. May et al. "Further development of a neurobehavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum
disorders." Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 37, no. 3 (2013): 517-528.

FOETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER
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reported that, the prevalence rate was almost 135.1 to 207.5 per 1000 people 2. In Africa, the
rate of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not at all satisfactory and it is reported that,
approximately 20 per cent of women are addicted to alcohol consumption and they used to
take alcohol during pregnancy. This high rate of alcohol consumption among the women is a
crucial promoting factor of FASD in Africa 3. The effect of FASD among the children is
quite severe and this condition severely hampers the cognitive and behavioural responses of
the children. A study was performed to examine the effect of the FASD among the children
in a school setting in the Midwestern US community. The study result showed that, there was
a significant differences in between the FASD affected children and unaffected control
children enrolled as sample in this study in terms of total dysmorphology scores. It was found
that, the children who had FASD syndrome, performed worse than that of the control children
in the 7 cognitive and behavioural tests and measures executed by the researchers. This study
result reported that, the risks of FAS among the children ranged from 6 to 9 children per 1000
children in the community. On the other hand, the overall FASD rate ranged from 24 to 48
children per 1000 children in the community4. While analysing the risk factors of FASD in
the African community it was reported that, the regular consumption of alcohol among the
mothers of the community selected in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The study
result stated that, the only 54 mothers out of the 64 mothers of FASD children were alive and
among them one individual refused to took part in the interview. After the interview session,
it was reported that, the children with FASD had significant differences in terms of
2 May, Philip A., Lesley Brooke, J. Phillip Gossage, Julie Croxford, Colleen Adnams, Kenneth L. Jones, Luther
Robinson, and Denis Viljoen. "Epidemiology of fetal alcohol syndrome in a South African community in the
Western Cape Province." American journal of public health 90, no. 12 (2000): 1905
3 Olivier, L., M. Urban, Matthew Chersich, Marleen Temmerman, and D. Viljoen. "Burden of fetal alcohol
syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa." South African Medical Journal 103, no. 6 (2013): 402-
405
4 May, Philip A., Amy Baete, Jaymi Russo, Amy J. Elliott, Jason Blankenship, Wendy O. Kalberg, David
Buckley et al. "Prevalence and characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders." Pediatrics 134, no. 5 (2014):
855-866.