Skip to main content

Table 2 The prototype guideline for the prevention and management of the FASD policy

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