Title
Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of 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.
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
Comments
This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.