Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa
Date
2013-03-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health & Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
Background. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is common in parts of South Africa; rural residence is a frequently cited risk factor. We
conducted a FAS school prevalence survey of an isolated rural community in a West Coast village of Western Cape Province, so obtaining
the first directly measured rate, focusing specifically on a South African rural area, of FAS and partial FAS (PFAS).
Methods. The study area (Aurora village), a community of about 2 500 people in a grain-producing region, has one primary school. All
learners were eligible for study inclusion. Initial anthropometry screening was followed by a diagnostic stage entailing examination by a
dysmorphologist for features of FAS, neurodevelopmental assessment, and an interview assessing maternal alcohol consumption.
Results. Of 160 learners screened, 78 (49%) were screen-positive, of whom 63 (81%) were clinically assessed for FAS. The overall FAS/PFAS
rate among the screened learners was 17.5% (95% confidence interval 12.0 - 24.2%), with 16 (10.0%) children having FAS and 12 (7.5%)
PFAS. High rates of stunting, underweight and microcephaly were noted in all learners, especially those with FAS or PFAS. Five (18%)
mothers of affected children were deceased by the time of assessment.
Conclusion. We describe very high rates of FAS/PFAS in an isolated rural part of the Western Cape that is not located in a viticultural
region. Our study suggests that the prevalence of FAS may be very high in isolated communities, or in particular hot-spots. It adds to the
growing evidence that FAS/PFAS is a significant, and underestimated, health problem in South Africa. Expanded screening and surveillance
programmes, and preventive interventions, are urgently needed.
Description
CITATION: Olivier, L. et al. 2013. Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 103(6):402-405, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.6249.
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
Keywords
Fetal alcohol syndrome -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Pregnant women -- Alcohol use -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Pregnancy
Citation
Olivier, L. et al. 2013. Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 103(6):402-405, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.6249.