Global prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

• Published in: Biochemistry and cell biology Vol. 96; no. 2; pp. 237 - 240
• Main Authors: Popova, Svetlana, Lange, Shannon, Probst, Charlotte, Gmel, Gerrit, Rehm, Jürgen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Adolescents; Adults; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Binge drinking; Children; Developmental disabilities; Drinking behavior; Fetal alcohol syndrome; Pregnancy; Prenatal experience; fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; prevalence; troubles du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale; alcohol use; prévalence; syndrome d’alcoolisation fœtale; consommation d’alcool; fetal alcohol syndrome; beuverie express; binge drinking
• ISSN: 0829-8211; 1208-6002; 1208-6002
• DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0077

Alcohol use during pregnancy is an established cause of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), with heavy drinking during pregnancy being explicitly linked to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This paper presents recent estimates of the prevalence of: (i) any amount of alcohol use during pregnancy; (ii) one or more binge drinking episode(s) (4 or more standard drinks on a single occasion) during pregnancy; (iii) FAS; and (iv) FASD among the general population globally and by World Health Organization region. It is apparent, based on the presented estimates, that alcohol use and binge drinking occur frequently among pregnant women in many countries and as a result, FASD is a prevalent alcohol-related developmental disability. Urgent action is required around the globe to eliminate prenatal alcohol exposure and prevent future children, adolescents, and adults from having FASD.