Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in South Africa

The American Journal of Public Health (Vol 90, Issue 12, 1905-1912) released a report on an epidemiological study in South Africa stating that the country's Fetal Alcohol Syndrome rates are 18 to 141 times greater than those of the United States - varying by South African communities.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) as the manifestation of specific growth; mental and physical birth defects associated with the mother's high levels of alcohol use during pregnancy.

Timing is also important. According to Medline Plus, an online medical encyclopedia from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health. Alcohol use during the first trimester is more damaging than during the second; and the second; more damaging than in the third.

Abnormalities caused by FAS include growth deficiency in the fetus and new born; delayed development with decreased mental functioning; facial and limb abnormalities and heart defects.

According to British Broadcast News reporter Will Ross, part of the blame is due to the fact that for many years, the vineyard owners paid their workers in wine instead of cash. The now banned practice has left tragic consequences for generations of impoverished farm workers.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one of the funded projects to assist with South Africa's FAS epidemic is the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance and Prevention Project - Republic of South Africa. In this three year cooperative agreement, the CDC and the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) team up with the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg). These organizations are working to develop ongoing surveillance for FAS; to estimate the prevalence of FAS in South African provinces; investigate, implement and evaluate prevention strategies and evaluate availability and gaps in alcohol and treatment services for women and intervention services for children.

Other proactive organizations such as FASFacts, whose headquarters are located in the Western Cape, are also pushing to bring about a substantial decrease to the FAS epidemic by educating the South African public about the effects of the disease. FASFacts aims to use such tactics as posters, articles in local publications, television and radio coverage. It incorporates an "Adopt a Pregnant Woman" campaign, where one or more families takes care of a pregnant woman who is an alcoholic, assisting in her rehabilitation and catering to the needs of her family.

Professor Denis Viljoen, who heads FARR in Johannesburg warns that a woman does not have to be an alcoholic to retard a child's development.

According to Viljoen, "A single binge can actually cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Very high levels of blood alcohol that could be attained by going to a party or a wedding could very easily cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome…resulting in a child being structurally damaged for life."