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Published on: July 13, 2014
A clinical intervention for children exposed to alcohol in utero
1Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
Insights
Alaska
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure poses significant risks to child development.
- Effective service delivery systems are crucial for children affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a statewide service delivery system for children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
- To evaluate this system's utility within a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) surveillance program.
Main Methods:
- Seven clinics were established in major Alaskan cities (1992-1995).
- Evaluated 74 children for FAS, assessing central nervous system abnormalities.
- Documented services recommended to parents.
Main Results:
- 70 of 74 evaluated children exhibited central nervous system abnormalities.
- Four children received a FAS diagnosis.
- Key recommendations included parent support (38%), psychological referral (35%), and educational planning (27%).
Conclusions:
- Clinics effectively provide services to children exposed to alcohol in utero and their families.
- Linking clinics with state data can enhance FAS surveillance.
- Further research is needed to optimize services for birth mothers.
Abstract:
This study describes a statewide system of delivering special services to children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and investigates the usefulness of this system as part of a statewide fetal alcohol syndrome surveillance system. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services administered seven clinics in four of the five largest cities in Alaska during 1992-1995. Among the 74 children selected to be evaluated for fetal alcohol syndrome, 70 had one or more central nervous system abnormalities. Four children were assigned the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. Recommendations made to parents of the evaluated children included parent support group follow-up (38%), referral to a psychologist (35%), and further school testing and planning (27%). Clinics for alcohol-exposed children provide health officials an opportunity to deliver appropriate services to children exposed to alcohol in utero and to their families. Further studies are necessary to improve the delivery of services to birth mothers of alcohol-exposed children who attend the clinic. State-wide fetal alcohol syndrome surveillance can be accomplished by linking these clinics with other state data sources.
