Fetal Alcohol Exposure Remains an Urgent Public Health Issue

Investigators from multiple institutions conducted an active surveillance study to estimate the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), including fetal alcohol syndrome, partial fetal alcohol syndrome, and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, in first graders from 4 geographically disparate sites in the United States. Study participants were children in the first grade during 2 academic years. Study sites included a community in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southeast sites, and a large city in the Pacific Southwest (the exact locations were not disclosed to preserve confidentiality). At each site, first graders from public and private schools were recruited for the study. Case ascertainment was based on facial features, growth, and neurodevelopmental testing results. Before conducting the study, the investigators developed specific criteria …