Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa

Authors

L. Olivier, Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research, South Africa
M. Urban, Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
M. Chersich, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Marleen Temmerman, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
D. Viljoen, Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research, South Africa

Document Type

Article

Department

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (East Africa); Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

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.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

South African Medical Journal

Recommended Citation

Olivier, L., Urban, M., Chersich, M., Temmerman, M., Viljoen, D. (2013). Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 103(6), 402-405.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_obstet_gynaecol/520