Alcohol's Impact on the Fetus.

Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada. Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada. Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy & Center of Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Street 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada. Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya Street, 8, b. 2, 119992 Moscow, Russia. Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 1301 N Columbia Rd., Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.

Nutrients. 2021;(10)
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Abstract

BACKGROUND Alcohol is a teratogen and prenatal exposure may adversely impact the developing fetus, increasing risk for negative outcomes, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Global trends of increasing alcohol use among women of childbearing age due to economic development, changing gender roles, increased availability of alcohol, peer pressure and social acceptability of women's alcohol use may put an increasing number of pregnancies at risk for prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). This risk has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in some countries. METHOD This literature review presents an overview on the epidemiology of alcohol use among childbearing age and pregnant women and FASD by World Health Organization regions; impact of PAE on fetal health, including FASD; associated comorbidities; and social outcomes. RESULTS/CONCLUSION The impact of alcohol on fetal health and social outcomes later in life is enormous, placing a huge economic burden on countries. Prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and early identification of affected individuals should be a global public health priority.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Review

Metadata

MeSH terms : Ethanol