© 2000 Medical Council on Alcoholism FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS) PRIMARY PREVENTION THROUGH FAS DIAGNOSIS: II. A COMPREHENSIVE PROFILE OF 80 BIRTH MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH FAS.

Diagnostic and Prevention Clinic as a center for identifying and targeting primary prevention intervention to high-risk women, 2) generate a comprehensive, lifetime profile of these women and 3) identify factors that have enhanced and/or hindered their ability to achieve abstinence. The results of this study are presented in two parts. Objective 1 is summarized in Part I and is published separately. Objectives 2 and 3 are summarized in Part II below. Comprehensive interviews were conducted with 80 women, who had given birth to a child diagnosed with FAS, to document their sociodemographics, reproductive and family planning history, social and health care utilization patterns, adverse social experiences, social support network, alcohol use and treatment history, mental health and intelligence quotient. This high-risk population of women was diverse in racial, educational and economic background, was often victims of abuse and was challenged by mental health issues. Despite their rather harsh psychosocial profile, many demonstrated the ability to overcome their alcohol dependence over time. The women who had achieved abstinence had significantly higher I.Q.s, higher household incomes, larger more satisfactory social support networks, were more likely to report a religious affiliation and were more likely to be receiving mental health treatment for their mental health disorders relative to the women who had not achieved abstinence. The rate of unintended pregnancies and alcohol-exposed pregnancies was substantial. Key barriers to achieving effective family planning were maternal alcohol and drug use, lack of access to birt