Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Date
2013-11-05
Authors
Davies, Leigh-Anne
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Abstract
Alcohol use during pregnancy is common and its consequences often result in a broad range of
negative, lifelong developmental outcomes. This study describes the effects of prenatal alcohol
exposure and interacting socio-demographic factors on early childhood development. One
hundred and twenty one children from the Northern Cape, South Africa, were clinically
examined using standard diagnostic procedures and assessed using the Griffiths Mental
Development Scales (GMDS/ER) at 7-12 months (Time 1) and 5 years of age (Time 2).
Participants were assigned to either: a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS/Partial Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome (PFAS); a Prenatal Alcohol Exposed (PAE); or a Control group based on the
diagnosis at 5 years. Mothers/caregivers were interviewed to ascertain socio-demographic
information, including prenatal alcohol exposure. During infancy, the FAS/PFAS group showed
significantly lower gross motor and language abilities, with delays in higher-order executive
functioning becoming more apparent with age. No significant differences were noted during
infancy between the PAE and Control groups over any developmental subscales. However, with
age, higher-order executive function delays were reported in the PAE group. Performance on the
infant and child versions of the GMDS was not significantly correlated, suggesting that the tests
may be measuring different developmental constructs. Lower maternal education, unemployment
and later recognition of pregnancy were associated with reduced social adaptive functioning, and
language and eye hand coordination abilities, irrespective of amount of prenatal alcohol exposure
over both time points. Larger anthropometric birth measurements and longer duration of
breastfeeding were significantly related to increased performance on the GMDS at 5 years within
the groups exposed to prenatal alcohol. Socio–demographic variables are likely to complicate
developmental profiles for all three groups, with prenatal and postnatal nutrition emerging as
possible protective factors for positive developmental outcomes at 5 years of age.
Description
Keywords
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Developmental delay, Longitudinal, Socio-demographic factors