Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder more prevalent in certain groups: study – CTV News
April 30, 2019
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is more prevalent among some vulnerable populations, including orphans, inmates and Indigenous groups, according to a new Canadian-led study. The findings also reinforce the message that there is “no safe amount” of alcohol a pregnant woman can drink, researchers say.
The research, led by Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and published in the journal Addiction on Tuesday, covered nearly 70 studies across 17 countries and identified five subpopulations that were found to have 10 to 40 times higher prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) than the general population.
The disorder, which includes the more severe fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), disproportionally affects the following groups:
