The FARR Resource Library

Over the years FARR have collected a large amount of information and resources that we are able to share with interested parties. Should you require any further information regarding FARR and/or FASD, you are welcome to contact us on: info@farrsa.org.za or 021 686 2646

More Information

About FASD

Globally, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (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.

When an unborn baby is exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, it can interrupt normal embryonic and fetal development and lead to a range of birth defects and negative birth outcomes.

Not all individuals affected by alcohol exposure during pregnancy, show the same signs and symptoms. There are specific diagnostic labels assigned depending on how the affected person presents, but they all fall under the umbrella term: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This term highlights that the severity and nature of the damage, caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy, is variable and, as a result of this, affected individuals lie on a spectrum.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) includes all possible disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure which includes:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – the most severe form of this disorder
Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)
Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)

An individual with FASD may present with the following features:

Small head circumference
Pre- and postnatal growth restrictions (height & weight)
Characteristic facial features
Cognitive disabilities
Behavioural disabilities
Physical disabilities and birth defects (e.g. organ damage)

The fetal development chart above illustrates how an embryo and a fetus develop over time, and how alcohol can interfere with development.

Pink sections: highlight the most vulnerable periods of development. Exposure to teratogens in this time will have the greatest impact on development.
Green sections: indicate that the most critical period of development has passed, however the development is still sensitive to damage.

Almost any aspect of development is at risk of damage if the embryo or fetus is exposed to alcohol. The central nervous system, and the brain in particular, is the aspect of development most frequently affected. It is therefore important to note that the brain remains vulnerable to damage for the duration of pregnancy.

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.

Important to note:

There is no time during pregnancy when an embryo or fetus is not vulnerable to alcohol exposure.
There is no risk-free amount of alcohol that can be used during pregnancy.
The best decision is to completely abstain from alcohol use during pregnancy, or if a woman is planning to become pregnant.

2021 FARR Pamphlet
2021 FASD Pamphlet

International FASD Day

International FASD Day is commemorated on 9 September and is a day devoted to creating awareness about FASD and spreading the FASD Prevention Message: No amount of alcohol is safe any time during pregnancy.

This is a mayor event on FARR’s calendar, and you will find FARR Head Office Staff and Project Teams actively involved in various awareness campaigns during the month of September.

The FASD-knot is the international symbol reminding us about the risk of prenatal alcohol exposure. We encourage everyone to wear a FASD-knot as a token of support to the prevention of FASD, especially on or around the 9th of September.

What is the FASD knot?

The knot consists of a white rope tied in a specific way, known as the reef knot or the fisherman’s knot. The knot is worn on your chest to raise awareness about FASD.

The knot symbolises the following:

The rope symbolises the umbilical cord whereby the unborn baby (fetus) is supposed to receive nutritious food and not alcohol;
The worn ends of the rope is a reminder of the damage that prenatal alcohol use can cause to the central nervous system (brain) and other organs of the unborn baby;
The knot is so strong that it will not break if traction is put on it, it will only pull tighter. This symbolizes the strong support that we are supposed to give pregnant women to abstain from alcohol use;
The circle inside the knot symbolises the womb (uterus) of the pregnant women which should provide a safe environment for the unborn baby free of alcohol.

What is the FASD Button Badge?

The FASD Button Badge is a new design and initiative by FARR. The badge is 55mm in diameter and can be temporarily fastened to the surface of a garment using a safety pin attached to the back of the badge. It is durable and delivers a high impact message and imagery. The FASD Button Badge was specifically designed for International FASD Day and contains a digital representation of the FASD Knot and the prevention message: No alcohol is safe during pregnancy.

To order FASD-knots or Button Badges contact: info@farrsa.org.za or 021 686 2646.

2024 International FASD Day Infographic

FASD Prevalence Rates

The World Health Organisation estimates that less than 1% of individuals are affected by FASD globally. However, in South Africa our country’s FASD Prevalence rate is estimated to be 11%.

To date FARR has conducted 19 FASD Prevalence Studies (see table below) in 5 of the 9 provinces of South Africa (Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape) since our establishment in 1997.

A FASD Prevalence Study is conducted to estimate the number of individuals affected by FASD in a certain community or municipal area. We then calculate a Prevalence Rate for that specific area and the extent of the problem in the form of a percentage or per 1 000 individuals in the population.

In our research, the Prevalence Rates were reported as high as 276 per 1000 (27.6%) in some communities in the Northern Cape Province (Louw et al., 2024). However, the highest published Prevalence Rate thus far is 31% and has been reported in South Africa, in an area in the Western Cape Province by other researchers (May et al., 2022). Compared to the World Health Organization’s estimate that the global FASD Prevalence Rate is less than 1%, this clearly highlights that FASD is a serious public health concern in South Africa.

*These findings can be generalized for the specific local municipal areas but it is not sufficient to provide a confirmed national prevalence rate for South Africa.

Research Publications

Refer to list of FARR publications

In the Media

The following section outlines articles and press releases about FARR and FASD:

2024:

Power FM: March Radio Interview (Part 1)

Power FM: March Radio Interview (Part 2)

RSG: May Radio Interview

Radio Khwezi: Sept Radio Interview

Smile FM: Sept Radio Interview

RSG: Oct Radio Interview

Trompsburg’s Voice: Newsletter Sept Publication (pg. 11-12)