Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Weber State University

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Kristen Willey

Target Audience All child bearing women over the age of 18  Women who drink alcoholic beverages 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) 



Prenatal exposures to alcohol cause wide range of disorders One of the most severe effects of drinking is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? 

Congenital Syndrome caused by excessive consumption of alcohol by mother during pregnancy, characterized by retardation of mental development and of physical growth, particularly of the face and skull

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? 





Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a birth defect caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy One of the most severe defects for a fetus Leading known preventable cause of mental retardation/other birth defects

What is FAS? 





Life long condition that causes mental and physical disabilities Affects every aspect of individual's life and the lives of their loved ones Umbrella term to describe range of effects that occur in a fetus

What are the Characterizations of FAS?    



Abnormal facial features Growth deficiencies Central Nervous System Problems Problems with learning, hearing, communication Problems with attention span, vision, difficulty getting along with others

What are Characterizations of FAS?   

Fetal death is the most extreme outcome Problems with daily living Sleep and sucking disturbances in infancy

Examples of FAS

Examples of FAS

Examples

How Common is FAS? 

  

.5 to 2 children in every 1,000 births affected Depends on surveillance methods used Depends on population studied Over 30 years of research recognizes this birth defect as a huge problem

PREVALENCE OF BINGE DRINKING AMONG CHILD_BEARING WOMEN

How can we prevent FAS?    

 

DON’T DRINK! Completely preventable Never too late to stop drinking Get help from professional if can’t stop drinking Sexually Active should not drink Family Role

Where do we get help?       

Doctor’s office Health Department Schools Social Service organizations Community services Clergy FAMILY!!!

State Based Prevention Programs 

 

Develop, implement, evaluate population based and targeted programs for prevention Identify high prevalence geographic areas Selected sub populations of child bearing women at high risk for alcohol exposed pregnancy

State Based Programs 





Establish/enhance prenatal and preconception programs Establish or use existing systems for monitoring impact of prevention programs Utah is not yet a funded site (only 7 of 50 states are)

A Public Health Concern 

 

FAS is a permanent, life long condition that affects every aspect of a child’s life and those around them FAS is completely preventable! Surgeon General’s Warning

This is Serious

Did You Know?  

  

If you don’t drink, you won’t have a child with FAS! While the overall rate of any alcohol use has declined since 1995, frequent and binge drinking continues to occur 1:30 women report risk drinking 1:7 nonpregnant women engage in risk drinking Estimated 130,000 women per year in US consume alcohol at levels shown to increase risk of having baby with FAS

Definitions 





Frequent drinking: 7 or more drinks per week Binge drinking: 5 or more drinks during any one occasion (dinner, etc) Overall known as “Risk Drinking”

Educating the Public 



FAS is a serious and lifelong with negative consequences Many people have heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-but the general level of understanding the condition is not well understood

Education 





Educate health professionals about improvements in screening, identification and treatment of children with FAS Families should learn all they can about the syndrome, how it affects child and strategies that help Will be able to locate appropriate services for affected child

Monitoring  





Random telephone surveys Data used to monitor alcohol use patterns in women of child bearing age Inform public health efforts to reduce alcohol exposed pregnancies Determine potential number of women at risk for FAS pregnancy

Monitoring     

Drinking patterns examine Any alcohol use Frequent drinking Binge drinking Eliminate hysterectomies, same sex couples, women using ineffective birth control methods

Advantages to FAS 

 

Not really any advantages to having a child with FAS Research is getting more definable Women are being educated about the risks of drinking during pregnancy

Disadvantages Not enough education on FAS  Women enjoy their drinks too much  They don’t care/aren’t concerned  FAS can be confused/mimicked by other genetic syndromes 

Summary 

 

Don’t Drink if planning on pregnancy or are pregnant Get help to stop drinking Educate yourself on FAS if you have a child with it

POP QUIZ!!  Relax  Take

your time  I hope you listened!

Questions??????

References       

www.cdc.gov www.health.utah.gov/birthdefect www.pregnancyriskline.org Julia Robertson, Pregnancy Risk Line Amy Nance, Utah Birth Defect Network Miland Palmer, Utah Birth Defect Network www.cdc.gov/mmwr “Guidelines for Identifying and Referring Persons with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

References  

  

www.surgeongeneral.gov/pressreleases www.oxfordreference.com.hal.weber.edu “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome www.cdc.gov/diseasesancconditions Weber State’s online library American College of Gynecology and Obstetrics