SA has the highest rate of FASD
The Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education (aware.org) is calling on all South Africans to join in on a global pledge to support the prevention of FASD and the harm caused by alcohol during pregnancy.
September 9 marks international Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day and studies show that over 11 per cent of children born in South Africa has some level of FASD.
According to research published in the American Medical Association journal, JAMA Paediatrics, South Africa has the highest rate of FASD globally.
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“Your baby’s tomorrow starts when you don’t drink,” said Ingrid Louw, CEO of aware.org – a non-profit organisation (NPO) registered with the Department of Social Development.
“No amount of alcohol is safe if you are, or even think, you may be pregnant.
“Alcohol can reach your baby within 20 minutes after taking a drink and is toxic for the unborn child.”
According to Louw, it may cause damage to any of the unborn child’s organs – the brain and the nervous system are the most vulnerable.
“Babies exposed to alcohol whilst in the womb are at risk of permanent brain damage,” Louw explained.
FASD lowers intellectual ability.
An average IQ for a normal child is 100, a child with FAS may have an average IQ range of between 65 and 75.
In addition, most of these children have attention and hyperactivity problems (with symptoms similar to ADHD).
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