Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a permanent birth defect caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. The term FASD is used to describe a range of disabilities and diagnoses such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and is applied to children whose mothers are known to have drunk heavily during pregnancy and who exhibit some, but not all, features of alcohol-related facial malformation. FASD is the leading cause of mental retardation in the Western world. Related birth defects, cognitive and developmental disabilities can be prevented by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. In Canada, it is estimated that nine in every 1,000 children born suffer from FASD¹, that is more than 3,000 babies a year and an estimated 300 000 people currently living with it.

NLSCY² data on the prevalence of self-reported alcohol consumption may be summarized as follows:

• 17 to 25% of mothers drank at one time or another during their pregnancy;
• 7 to 9% drank through their entire pregnancy;
• 5% drank only before realizing they were pregnant.

In addition, a majority of women (94%) consumed alcohol once or twice a day when they drank, whereas 3% consumed three to four drinks a day, and fewer than 3% consumed five or more drinks a day.

References

See also...

• What do we know?
• What can be done?
• According to experts
• Key messages