SYDNEY, June 3 (Xinhua) -- About 3.64 percent of the population, or one in 28 Australians, may be affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, a new study revealed on Tuesday.
As the first national-level estimate of FASD prevalence in Australia, the study combined international data on FASD risk with Australian statistics showing that nearly half of all pregnancies involve alcohol exposure, according to a press release from the University of Sydney.
FASD is Australia's leading preventable cause of brain injury and developmental disability, often linked to conditions like ADHD and autism. Alcohol can harm the fetus early in pregnancy, even before it's confirmed, the release said.
"Alcohol readily crosses the placenta and damage to the developing brain and organs can occur in the earliest stages of pregnancy, before many women even realize they are pregnant," said University of Sydney Prof. Elizabeth Elliott, senior author and expert in FASD research.
The safest choice is complete abstinence from alcohol when planning or during pregnancy, said Elliott, highlighting the importance of contraception for women who drink and are sexually active, given the high number of unplanned pregnancies.
The study underscores the urgent need for awareness, early diagnosis, and intervention, especially in vulnerable groups such as youth in detention, children in foster care, and some Indigenous communities where FASD rates are even higher.
FASD imposes significant costs on healthcare, education, justice and social services, affecting individuals, families and communities, according to the study, published in Drug and Alcohol Review. ■
