Epidemiology of fetal alcohol syndrome in a South African community in the Western Cape Province

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.90.12.1905
• Publication Date: 2008-11-29T13:33:29Z
• Authors: Philip A. May; Lesley E. Brooke; J P Gossage; Julie Croxford; Colleen M. Adnams; Kenneth Lyons Jones; Luther K. Robinson; Denis Viljoen
• Keywords: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Cape

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome in a South African community, and methodology was designed for multidisciplinary developing societies. METHODS: An active case ascertainment, 2-tier used among 992 first-grade pupils. A case-control design, using measures growth, development, dysmorphology, maternal risk, delineated children with syndrome. RESULTS: high rate found schools--40.5 to 46.4 per 1000 aged 5 9 years--and age-specific community rates (ages 6-7) were 39.2 42.9. These are 18 141 times greater than United States. Rural residents had significantly more After control ethnic variation, traits similar those elsewhere: poor growth congruent lower intellectual functioning. CONCLUSIONS: documented highest date an overall population. Fetal initiatives that incorporate innovative sampling ascertainment methods can be obtain timely accurate data populations.