Globally, FASD is the most common preventable form of mental- and physical disability.  The damage caused to the developing fetus by alcohol exposure during pregnancy, is permanent and irreversible.  The burden of FASD on our society is being ignored despite the fact that it is far-reaching (socially and financially) and completely preventable. It is estimated that in the United States, FASD costs $6 billion (approximately R42 billion) annually and the average cost to treat a person with FASD for life is $1.4 million.  The estimated burden of FASD in South Africa has not as yet been calculated, but is being investigated. The full impact of FASD in South Africa is immeasurable when it is estimated that at least 28% in specific communities may have FASD (according to research undertaken by FARR). Being affected with FASD has far reaching and costly implications for the individual and the family, community and country.  The diagnostic costs and the management of the primary disabilities are immense. If undetected and untreated many individuals with FASD present with secondary disabilities such as mental- and other health problems, substance and other forms of abuse, consequences of risky behavior and conflict with the law. It is therefore extremely difficult to calculate the cost of this condition which is already affecting thousands of South-Africans.  In the light of this, it is apparent that all efforts should be put in place to raise awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol use during pregnancy and need to prevent children from being born with FASD.

When a pregnant mother consumes alcohol, so too does her unborn baby.  Alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman, is carried via her blood circulation system, through the placental tissue that separates the mother and baby’s blood systems, delivering the alcohol directly to the developing tissues of the fetus. Alcohol is especially devastating to the brain of the developing fetus, as alcohol easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Alcohol can damage the developing fetus throughout the entire pregnancy and the damage caused is not isolated to any particular stage during pregnancy. The severity of FASD depends on the quantity and timing when alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, together with numerous other factors such as: the mothers’ body mass index and overall health, age, food consumption at the time the alcohol was ingested, genetic predisposition, other substances such as smoking, etc.

There is no known risk-free amount of alcohol a pregnant woman can consume without increasing the risk of damage to the developing fetus. All women who consume alcohol while pregnant are at risk of having a baby with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).  Research indicates that even light consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby. Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption, especially binge drinking, is associated with a higher risk of having a baby with FASD.

Heavy alcohol consumption is defined as an average of about two standard drinks per day during pregnancy and/or 14 drinks per week.  Binge drinking is defined as at least 5 standard drinks on any occasion.

Of all the substances of abuse, including heroin, cocaine and marijuana, alcohol causes the most serious lifelong neurological and physical damage to a developing fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term, which includes all possible disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most severe form of this disorder and the leading cause of preventable mental disability in the world.

The following features should be present for a diagnosis of FASD (by a trained Specialist medical practitioner, using the standardised scientific assessment tools developed by national and international FASD specialists:

Small head size

Growth retardation before and after birth(height & weight)

Intellectual disability

Specific facial features such as long, smooth, upper lip, small openings of the eye (called palpebral fissures), etc.

Organ anomalies e.g. heart defects

In addition, individuals with FASD may present with a variety of learning, behavioral and psychological symptoms without having any physical abnormalities.