NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts

NOV 18 2015

Remote mothers take control of drinkingduring pregnancy

“The turnaround was not entirely surprising to researchers because of an aggressive Aboriginal-lededucation campaign, spearheaded by Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services and MarninwarntikuraWomen’s Resource Centre.

Fitzroy Crossing’s strict alcohol restrictions, education programs run by midwives and Aboriginalstaff and an innovative model of mother-and-child care focused on FASD had raised awareness:Diagnostic clinics where we show people the impact on children of drinking in pregnancy have been

The national authority in Aboriginal primary health care-Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands

very helpful. I strongly suspect this synergistic approach is the one that made an impact.”

Telethon Kids Institute clinical researcher Dr James Fitzpatrick.

Pregnant mothers have elimin ated or reduced their intake of alcohol in a life-affirming turnaround inthe Kimberley region, which made international headlines with one of the world’s highest rates offetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD, in findings published early this year.

SEE ALSO Aboriginal women, alcohol and the road to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder(https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2012/197/1/aboriginal-women-alcohol-and-road-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder)

Preliminary results of an attitudinal study indicate that the proportion of women who say they drankwhile pregnant has dropped from 65 per cent in 2010 to 20 per cent now, according to Telethon KidsInstitute clinical researcher James Fitzpatrick.

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/remote-mothers-take-control-of-drinking-during-pregnancy/story-fn9hm1pm-1227612967694?sv=1b1964ea8c10dd3db7df652fd9c97514)

“The early data is very positive in terms of FASD prevention,” he said. “This is important knowledgeas we know FASD is 100 per cent preventable. We’ve demonstrated that a multi-pronged preventionapproach can work.”

Centred on the town of Fitzroy Crossing, the 450-strong Fitzroy Valley population — with 80 births ayear — has had a high rate of children born with a serious alcohol-related disability. Researchers inthe Liliwan study of FASD incidence in the region diag nosed one in eight children born in 2002-03with fetal alcohol syndrome; about 55 per cent of mothers admitted to drinking heavily whilepregnant. “They were shocking figures, but the positive impact of a community-led FASD preventionstrategy in recent years has brought down the levels of drinking in pregnancy,” Dr Fitzpatrick said.

A questionnaire of 200 people in the Fitzroy Valley in August showed 90 per cent of women and 70per cent of men intended not to drink during their own or a partner’s pregnancy. Another 75 per centsaid they would intervene if they saw a pregnant woman drinking, and urge her to abstain.

Dr Fitzpatrick said the turnaround was not entirely surprising to researchers because of an aggressiveAboriginal-led education campaign, spearheaded by Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services andMarninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre.

He said Fitzroy Crossing’s strict alcohol restrictions, education programs run by midwives andAboriginal staff and an innovative model of mother-and-child care focused on FASD had raisedawareness: “Diagnostic clinics where we show people the impact on children of drinking inpregnancy have been very helpful. I strongly suspect this synergistic approach is the one that made animpact.”

A member of the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs reporting to RuralHealth Minister Fiona Nash, Dr Fitzpatrick said he was encouraging the federal government toconsider rolling out a scaled-up model across mainstream Australia .

By nacchomedia • Posted in Aboriginal health in the news, Alcohol and other drugs, Womens Health• Tagged Aboriginal, Fasd

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