From: A guideline for the prevention and management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in South Africa
Approaches and guiding principles and approaches – the proposed FASD policy should be… | |
 Holistic | |
 User- and caregiver-focused | |
 Inter-departmental/multi-sectoral | |
 Considerate of needs across the lifespan | |
 Collaborative | |
 Human rights-based | |
 Based on a public health framework | |
 Culturally diverse and culturally sensitive | |
 Evidence-based | |
 Woman/family-centred | |
 Clear about referral pathways | |
 Designed to avoid victim blaming | |
 Cost-effective | |
 Driven by behavioural economics | |
Education-related proposed prevention measure for FASD – the proposed FASD policy should… | |
 Enhance awareness of the dangers of drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy in schools including colleges and universities | |
 Assist individuals with alcohol-use problems in educational settings to access treatment | |
 Address barriers to access treatment for alcohol-related problems in educational settings | |
 Address stigma associated with alcohol abuse in educational settings | |
 Facilitate training of teachers re the FASD prevention/awareness programme | |
 Facilitate the development and implementation of FASD awareness programmes in schools (including colleges and universities) | |
 Facilitate the use of peer education for the FASD awareness programme in schools | |
 Promote a healthy lifestyle in schools through sport and other extra-curricular activities | |
 Make school events alcohol-free | |
 Discourage the establishment of liquor stores in the proximity of schools | |
 Promote the education of young individuals about healthy pregnancy in schools | |
Health-related proposed prevention measures for FASD – should… | |
 Facilitate screening for alcohol use in clinics and hospitals | |
 Encourage proper documentation of the alcohol history of women, especially pregnant women | |
 Facilitate the inclusion of FASD prevention as a part of health promotion activities in clinics and hospitals | |
 Facilitate the education of individuals and couples re the dangers of drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy in the pre-conception clinic | |
 Facilitate the education of individuals and couples re the dangers of drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy in the reproductive clinic | |
 Encourage the use of visible posters and pamphlets for FASD prevention campaigns in all clinics and hospitals | |
 Facilitate training of healthcare professionals re FASD prevention | |
 Facilitate early and appropriate referral to treatment for individuals (including women) with alcohol misuse issues | |
 Empower health professionals with the skills to counsel and ask questions about safe and appropriate alcohol use | |
 Promote the use of contraceptives to avoid unplanned pregnancy | |
Community/social-related proposed prevention measures for FASD – should… | |
 Facilitate public awareness re the dangers of alcohol abuse | |
 Facilitate the education of all people in the community re the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy | |
 Facilitate the education of individuals and couples re the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy | |
 Encourage the use of community groups for FASD prevention (education and awareness) | |
 Facilitate the training of the community health/community-based workers and youth care/social workers re FASD prevention | |
 Facilitate early intervention and assistance for individuals with alcohol-use problems in the community | |
 Facilitate the creation of social programmes such as skills training and empowerment programmes for women in the community | |
 Encourage awareness and education re FASD in the workplace, rural and urban areas and farming communities | |
 Promote the use of multimedia such as posters, adverts, pamphlets, TV, social media and road shows re FASD awareness in the communities | |
 Promote enforcement of liquor laws and regulation of shebeens to control accessibility and availability of alcohol in the community | |
 Provide access to treatment for people with alcohol-use problems in the community | |
 Provide smooth aftercare and community reintegration to people who have attended alcohol rehab | |
 Promote afterschool activities in the community to prevent early exposure of adolescents to alcohol | |
 Discourage all advertisements that link alcohol to sport/other popular community events/activities | |
 Mandate labels on alcohol containers to contain information re the dangers of drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy | |
 Mandate that liquor stores display warning signs regarding alcohol and pregnancy | |
 Enable the creation of support groups for individuals with alcohol misuse issues in the community | |
 Facilitate the training of the community and religious leaders re FASD prevention | |
 Promote collaboration and the use of non-profit organisations (NPO) re FASD prevention | |
 Utilise community and religious leaders to increase FASD awareness among their communities | |
 Promote the expansion and adoption of NPO evidence-based interventions re prevention in the community | |
 Assist families to support individuals with alcohol-use problems | |
Education-related proposed management measures for FASD – should... | |
 Facilitate the development of a curriculum that accommodates individuals with FASD | |
 Facilitate training of teachers re the classroom management for individuals with FASD | |
 Promote skilled schools for learners with learning disabilities (including individuals with FASD) who are not benefiting from formal education | |
 Make provision for special assistance for individuals with FASD within mainstream schools | |
 Facilitate the creation of the special schools for learners with a learning disability (including individuals with FASD) who are not benefiting from mainstream schooling | |
 Facilitate the education of parents re the needs and management of individuals with FASD | |
Health-related proposed management measures for FASD – should... | |
 Facilitate capacity building re diagnosis among health professionals | |
 Facilitate FASD screening for all children who are known to have been prenatally exposed to alcohol | |
 Make provision for diagnostic services for individuals | |
 Promote diagnosis for school children, adolescents and adults to reduce rates of people who are left undiagnosed or misdiagnosed | |
 Promote appropriate referral pathways to services after diagnosis | |
 Facilitate the creation of diagnostic centres in clinics, hospitals and communities | |
 Facilitate the creation of national surveillance for FASD via reports from health professionals | |
 Make provision for integrated and individualised medical services for individuals with FASD | |
 Encourage routine consideration of FASD in the diagnosis and management of mental illness and developmental disorders | |
Community/social-related proposed management measures for FASD – should... | |
 Provide skills training and empowerment programmes for those in need among individuals with FASD | |
 Facilitate appropriate employment opportunities for individuals with FASD | |
 Facilitate the training of community health workers/community-based workers/youth care workers/social workers and professionals within judiciary system re FASD management | |
 Facilitate the training of the biological and foster parents/caregivers regarding the management of FASD | |
 Promote the empowerment of the parents/caregivers of individuals with FASD in the community | |
 Promote the establishment of support systems for biological and foster parents/caregivers and individuals with FASD in the community | |
 Promote the referral of parents and individuals with FASD to appropriate services | |
 Make provision for effective counselling services for parents and individuals with FASD | |
 Encourage family/community support for individuals with FASD | |
 Provide support for individuals with FASD in child protection/foster care and the criminal justice system | |
 Facilitate the creation of a structure and supportive environment at home, school and beyond |