Interventions for Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Interventions focused on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are designed to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancies and FASD among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The emphasis among many AI/AN communities on the health of future generations has prioritized this research.
FASD represents the range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments produced by alcohol exposure before birth. FASD symptoms may be mild or severe, and they contribute to a variety of issues that include learning disabilities, behavioral issues, mood disorders, speech and language delays, and physical impairments.
Optimal prevention strategies for communities, as well as the prevalence of FASD, will differ based on local patterns of alcohol and contraceptive use, environment, cultural practices, and traditions. Recent prevalence studies indicate that FASD rates among AI/AN communities are similar to those in non-AI/AN communities.
The lack of familiarity with FASD among the public and medical providers hampers intervention efforts. Many people with FASD are unable to obtain a formal diagnosis. FASD often is not identified until a child encounters challenges in school. Not only do underdiagnosis and stigma contribute to low recruitment and retention in studies relating to alcohol-exposed pregnancy or FASD, but they also affect the interpretation of findings.
The following interventions were selected from published peer-reviewed studies, using a rigorous set of criteria. Native and non-Native researchers led this review, conducting alcohol research in Native populations. The About NativeAIR page describes the intervention selection criteria and coding scheme, which includes elements of cultural or Tribal inclusion.
Interventions can be filtered and sorted by different variables to help find the interventions that may be most appropriate for your needs. The Description of Intervention Variables page contains a more detailed description of all the intervention variables.