SA tops disorder due to alcohol abuse
SOUTH Africa remains the country with the highest rate of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the world.
The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (Farr) estimates that 64 of every 1 000 children in Grade 1 suffer from FASD. This is a prevalence rate of 6.42% in the population.
“Compared to the next highest rate in the world, namely 1% in the USA, this rate is alarmingly high,” said Denis Viljoen, founder of Farr.
This disorder affects children whose mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy.
The prevalence of FASD in the country might actually be worse than is currently known, said Viljoen, as the prevalence rate has not been probed across all nine provinces.
“We have only done research in four provinces and, therefore, do not know the extent of the problem in the other provinces. We hope to start researching in other provinces soon,” he said.
Farr said studies it had conducted in Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape Province and Gauteng “recorded the highest reported FASD rates in the world”.
The foundation said it believed that “looking at statistics makes it abundantly clear” why International FASD Awareness Day should be used to raise awareness, “especially in South Africa”.
Health department spokesman Joe Maila said: “The culture of drinking alcohol during pregnancy is a serious problem that needs all of us to tackle.”
Maila said it was difficult to assess if programmes the department had set up were helping to reduce the FASD prevalence rate. “However, there is some evidence for changes in attitudes in relation to drinking in pregnancy.”
While the department has not gauged the cost of the disorder on the country’s economy, Maila said it surely had a negative impact.
“We have not done such calculation but the costs are, no doubt, very high.”