Maternal Risk Factors for FASD in Africa: A Comprehensive Overview

This report provides an overview of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) from an African perspective. It begins by defining FASD and its causative factors, including maternal alcohol consumption and poor bodily measures. The report highlights the concerning rates of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Africa, with up to 20% of women affected. It details the symptoms of FASD in children, such as poor cognitive and intelligence levels, and vision and hearing problems. The prevalence of the condition is discussed, specifically in the Western Cape province and South Africa, with statistics from the last decade. The methodology used is quantitative, involving self-structured questionnaires with a sample of approximately 30 participants. The report concludes with recommendations for addressing the problem, including awareness programs, enhancing educational levels, and government initiatives. References to relevant studies are also included, providing a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
OF FOETAL ALCOHOL
SPECTRUM DISORDER

BACKGROUND
 Foetal alcohol
syndrome and
its less severe
consequences of
the maternal
drinking is
collectively
referred to as
the FASD (May et
al. 2014).

CAUSATIVE FACTOR
 Poor behavioural
practice among
mothers.
 Alcohol
consumption
 Poor bodily
measures such as
height , weight of
the mothers
(Mattson et al.
2013).

CONTINUED…
 In Africa, the rate
of alcohol
consumption
during pregnancy
is not at all
satisfactory .
 20 per cent of
women are
addicted to alcohol
consumption (May
et al. 2014).

SYMPTOMS AMONG
CHILDREN
 poor intelligence
levels
 poor cognitive
levels
 problem in
hearing and
vision

PREVALENCE OF
CONDITION
 In Western Cape
province of
Africa, the
prevalence rate
is 17 to 23 per
cent .
 5.9 per cent to
7.9 per cent of
school aged
children are
affected (Olivier
et al.2013).

CONTINUED…
 In South Africa,
almost 40.5 and
119.4 person per
1000 population are
affected by FASD in
last decade.
 In Western Cape, it
was reported that,
the prevalence rate
was almost 135.1 to
207.5 per 1000
people in last decade
(Adebiyi et al. 2018).

METHODOLOGY
 Use of
quantitative
study method.
 Use of self-
structured
questionnaire .
 Approximately
30 participants
as study sample.

RECOMMENDATION
 Awareness
program
 Enhancing
educational level
 Government
initiatives to
address the
problem.

CONCLUSION
 FASD is one of the
serious problems in
Africa.
 Too much alcohol
during the pregnancy
can promote the cases
of FASD among the
children.
 children with FASD
may have problems
regarding the
behavioural and
cognitive practices.

REFERENCES
May, Philip A., J. Phillip Gossage, Lesley E. Brooke, Cudore L. Snell, Anna-Susan
Marais, Loretta S. Hendricks, Julie A. Croxford, and Denis L. Viljoen. "Maternal risk
factors for fetal alcohol syndrome in the Western cape province of South Africa: a
population-based study." American Journal of Public Health 95, no. 7 (2005): 1190-
1199.
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.
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.
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
May, Philip A., Lesley Brooke, J. Phillip Gossage, Julie Croxford, Colleen Adnams,
Kenneth L. Jones, Luther Robinson, and Denis Viljoen. "Epidemiology of fetal alcohol
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Adebiyi, Babatope O., Ferdinand C. Mukumbang, Lizahn G. Cloete, and Anna-Marie
Beytell. "Exploring service providers’ perspectives on the prevention and
management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in South Africa: a qualitative
study." BMC public health 18, no. 1 (2018): 1238.