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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Health Needs Assessment in Brazil.

Authors :: Rocha AG
de Souza PRA
Wachholz GE
Fraga LR
Sanseverino MTV
Terra AP
da Silva AA
Vianna FSL
Abeche AM
Larrandaburu M
Del Campo M
Schuler-Faccini L
Source :: Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research [Alcohol Clin Exp Res] 2020 Mar; Vol. 44 (3), pp. 660-668. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Feb 25.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Background: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a disorder caused by alterations in embryo-fetal development due to prenatal alcohol exposure. It is estimated that between 0.5 and 2 per 1,000 individuals are born with FAS every year. In Brazil, there are few studies addressing the extent of the problem of FAS/fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD); these studies are confined to limited geographic areas. Therefore, we decided to perform a health needs assessment for FAS/FASD in Brazil.<br />Methods: To estimate the prevalence of FAS and FASD in Brazil, we used information from the literature, which estimates between 0.5 and 2/1,000 births per year for FAS and 10 to 50/1,000 for FASD.<br />Results: We estimated that approximately 1,500 to 6,000 children are born with FAS every year. Considering the whole population, the prevalence would be 95,377 to 380,000 affected people. However, when we consider FASD as a whole, we estimate that between 1,900,000 and 9,500,000 Brazilians might suffer the more severe consequences of alcohol exposure during pregnancy and be living with FASD.<br />Conclusion: The results of the current study indicate that FAS and FASD are prevalent disorders in Brazil, and more policies targeting alcohol intake during pregnancy must be developed.<br /> (© 2020 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)