Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) primary prevention through fas diagnosis: II.A comprehensive profile of 80 birth mothers of children with FAS

A 5-year, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) primary prevention study was conduct ed in Washington State to: (1) assess the feasibility of using a FAS diagno stic and prevention clinic as a centre for identifying and targeting primar y prevention intervention to high-risk women; (2) generate a comprehensive, lifetime profile of these women; (3) identify factors that have enhanced a nd/or hindered their ability to achieve abstinence. The results of this stu dy are presented in two parts. Objective 1 is summarized in the preceding p aper and objectives 2 and 3 are summarized here. Comprehensive interviews w ere conducted with 80 women, who had given birth to a child diagnosed with FAS, to document their sociodemographics, reproductive and family planning history, social and healthcare utilization patterns, adverse social experie nces, social support network, alcohol use and treatment history. mental hea lth, and intelligence quotient (IQ). These high-risk women were diverse in racial, educational and economic backgrounds, were often victims of abuse, and challenged by mental health issues. Despite their rather harsh psychoso cial profile, many demonstrated the ability to overcome their alcohol depen dence over time. Relative to the women who had not achieved abstinence, the women who had achieved abstinence had significantly higher IQs, higher hou sehold incomes, larger more satisfactory social support networks, were more likely to report a religious affiliation, and were more likely to be recei ving mental health treatment for their mental health disorders. The rate of unintended pregnancies and alcohol-exposed pregnancies was substantial. Ke y barriers to achieving effective family planning were maternal alcohol and drug use, lack of access to birth control and lack of support by their par tner to use birth control. A FAS diagnostic and prevention clinic can be us ed to identify women at high risk for producing children damaged by prenata l alcohol exposure. Primary prevention programmes targeted to this populati on could lead to measurable reductions in the incidence of FAS.