Tracking Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The reported prevalence rates of FAS vary widely depending on the
population studied and the surveillance methods used. CDC studies show
FAS prevalence rates ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in
different areas of the United States. Other prenatal alcohol-related
conditions, such as alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)
and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD), are believed to occur
approximately three times as often as FAS.
Population-based surveillance of FAS is important to document the
magnitude of the problem and to monitor trends in the occurrence of this
preventable birth defect. In 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) established or enhanced statewide, population-based
surveillance of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Purposes of FAS Surveillance Network:
The specific purposes of the population-based Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Surveillance Network (FASSNet) initiative and the cooperative agreements
were to:
- Enhance an existing system or develop and implement a new system
that uses a multiple-source surveillance methodology to enable
researchers to determine the prevalence of FAS within a
geographically defined area (statewide, multiple states, or regions
within a state);
- Improve the capacity to ascertain true cases of FAS and generate
population-based surveillance data;
- Establish relations with facilities or programs where FAS is
likely to be diagnosed or children with FAS receive services, such
as high-risk newborn registries, special diagnostic units, special
education programs, special needs registries, and other programs or
settings for children with developmental disabilities;
- Evaluate the completeness of the surveillance system
methodology, the system's ability to generate a prevalence rate for
FAS, and the potential for monitoring trends; and
- Implement health-care provider training and education on FAS to
improve case ascertainment, referral and case-management practices,
and prevention activities.
FASSNet Sites:
FASSNet projects were in five states. Click on a state listed below to
learn more about its program. This cooperative agreement ended in 2003.
DISCLAIMER: Links to organizations outside of CDC are included for information only.
CDC has no control over the information at these sites. Views and opinions
of these organizations are not necessarily those of CDC, the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), or the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS).
FASSNet links to the pdf formatted
documents
medical
provider education materials and a
charting
tool to enhance FAS case ascertainment and improve the surveillance of
FAS.
Documents bearing
the
logo are in the Portable Document Format (PDF) and require the Adobe
Acrobat Reader for proper viewing.
Visit
http://www.adobe.com/ to get a
free copy of Adobe Reader.
FASSNet Findings:
FASSNet data indicate that many children continue to be affected by
maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. The rate of FAS in children born
during the three year time period from 1995 through 1997 in four of the
FASSNet states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and New York) ranged from 0.3
to 1.5 per 1,000 live births and varied by race/ethnicity.
Related Publications:
Fox DJ, Druschel CM. Estimating prevalence of fetal
alcohol syndrome (FAS): Effectiveness of a passive birth defects
registry system. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2003;67:604-608.
[Abstract]
Meaney FJ, Miller LA, FASSNet Team. A comparison of
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance Network and birth defects
surveillance methodology in determining prevalence rates of fetal
alcohol syndrome. Birth Defects Research (Part A)
2003;67:819-821. [Abstract]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fetal
alcohol syndrome --- Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and New York,
1995--1997. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
2002;51:433-435. [Full
Text]
Hymbaugh K, Miller LA, Druschel CM, Podvin DW,
Meaney J, Boyle CA, FASSNet Team. A multiple source methodology for the
surveillance of fetal alcohol syndrome – the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Surveillance Network (FASSNet). Teratology 2002;66:S41-S49. [Abstract]
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