PREVENTING FAS
IT CAN BE DONE!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), South Africa has the highest reported prevalence rates of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the world, with our country’s overall rate being at least 6 percent, compared to the global average of 1.5 percent. In some communities in South Africa, rates are as high as 28 percent.
FAS is the most common preventable form of mental disability in the world. It occurs in children of mothers who drink alcohol during their pregnancies. There is no cure.
Great news from a community spanning 30 farms east of Colesberg in the Great Karoo is that since 2013 no babies with FAS have been born in the area. How? Thanks to a research and education programme run by Mamas Alliance and the Hantam Community Education Trust. The programme was inspired by one mom’s sad story. She drank during her pregnancy as she had simply never been educated about the dangers. As a result, her firstborn now has a severe learning disability. Wanting to educate other pregnant mothers that FAS is 100 percent preventable, but also
100 percent irreversible, the brave mom, along with the Hantam Community Education Trust, spearheaded an initial FAS programme.
After educational campaigns, home visits and great efforts made by field officers, the campaign was found to still not be making a tangible difference within the community.
Subsequent research solved the puzzle. It was found that the targeted mothers felt no connection or sense of bonding with their unborn baby.
What was needed was a deeper understanding about the growth of the baby, and more about the physical attachment and link between mother and baby. Impactful and educational visual material was put to use, for instance to show the brain of a normally developing foetus compared to one already affected by FAS. This, along with demonstrations using dolls and other educational initiatives, resulted in many more mothers not drinking alcohol during their pregnancies.
Even the men in the community started forming support systems to help pregnant women abstain, reinforcing the importance of involving whole communities in these types of initiatives.
FAS IS 100% PREVENTABLE, BUT ALSO 100% IRREVERSIBLE.