One drink may be one too many when you are creating a new life inside you.
With September being Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness month, a spotlight is being placed on just how many South Africans are affected by this preventable birth defect.
According to a 2019 study on the relationships of South Africans to alcohol use and harm by Dr Sarah Wolf (et.al), published in the Substance Use and Misuse journal, a serious problem exists.
“South Africa has the highest alcohol-attributable burden of disease and disability in Sub-Saharan Africa,” the report reads.
This number is so high in part due to the role of alcohol use in the transmission and treatment of HIV/Aids.
According to the City of Cape Town’s health and community services directorate, FASD is a confirmed cause of preventable mental retardation.
“The effects last a lifetime and there is currently no treatment or help. The disorder can only be diagnosed by a psychiatrist after many stringent tests have been applied. FASD may only be contracted by a foetus or child if a pregnant woman has consumed alcohol during pregnancy,” says Patricia van der Ross, Mayco member for health and community services in a statement.
“Annually, the City of Cape Town creates awareness about FASD, its causes, myths and effects of the disorder by hosting awareness and information sessions throughout the year with additional emphasis placed on knowledge sharing.”
For a local community worker caring for vulnerable children in the Mitchell’s Plain area, the burden and dependency on alcohol by residents across the Cape Flats is evident.
“Drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, fatherless homes, unemployment and the overall hopelessness of people on the Cape Flats is ultimately seen in the children.
“They have to live with the consequences,” says Mildred.
Requesting anonymity to protect the identity and dignity of the parents and children she assists weekly, she says the lack of education around the importance of sobriety creates an even greater concern.
“Truancy is where it all starts. Not caring about a future they know they do not have due to the social circumstances weighs heavy on these affected youths.
“Drinking while pregnant is the least of their concerns, it helps relieve the burdens, just as any other day.”
She adds that in these communities, substance abuse continues to fuel a cycle of neglect, often resulting in grandparents, guardians and child-headed households.
Offering support groups along with a feeding scheme for the community means she has a first-hand view of the impact this has.
Van der Ross believes the burden of alcohol dependency and the negative health effects should not be carried over to unborn children.
“We all have a responsibility to nurture, care for and protect our children. Responsible parenthood should start early and we encourage residents to attend information sessions as knowledge about FASD is a powerful tool to understand the disorder and the many negative effects.
“Our officials are there to assist and share knowledge and create platforms for opportunities to learn.”
“We can all do more by ensuring that we share knowledge and spread the message,” says Van der Ross.
While there have been conflicting findings on the effects of low and moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the Western Cape Department of Social Development states there is no safe minimum amount of alcohol that a pregnant woman can drink without it affecting her unborn child.
“Research shows just a few drinks during your pregnancy can cause serious, life-long brain damage to your unborn baby.”
The department advises the best thing to do for the unborn child is to avoid alcohol during the pregnancy.
According to the department, when alcohol enters the bloodstream of a pregnant woman, it’s carried through the placental, delivering the alcohol directly to the developing tissues of the foetus. This means that when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby.
“The alcohol is 100% absorbed by the foetus and causes devastating damage to the baby’s brain. This brain damage later results in serious behavioural disorders. The harmful effects of alcohol can damage the fetus at any stage of your pregnancy and isn’t isolated to a particular stage of the pregnancy.”
Aware.org, the association for alcohol responsibility and education, in collaboration with the National Department of Social Development, has also launched an awareness campaign for the month of September, under the slogan “Their tomorrow starts when you don’t drink”.
- For help with substance abuse, contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 021 418 0908, Al-Anon on 021 595 4517 or SANCA on 021 945 4080. Visit aware.org.za for more resources.
