Research to Practice: Translation and Dissemination of an Effective Intervention for Reducing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies

Prenatal exposure to alcohol is a leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Individuals exposed to alcohol during fetal development can have physical, mental, behavioral, and learning disabilities, with lifelong implications. These conditions are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). From 2002-2005 CDC conducted a randomized controlled trial of a brief motivational intervention called, “CHOICES: A Program for Women About Choosing Healthy Behaviors”, to reduce the risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) in pre-conceptional women by focusing on both risky drinking and ineffective contraception use. The study found that a brief motivational intervention focused on reversing either risky levels of drinking, or using effective contraception can reduce the risk of an AEP. Health professionals play a crucial role in identifying and intervening with women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. This presentation will describe the process used to translate and disseminate the CHOICES intervention to health professionals serving a variety of high risk women of childbearing age, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Topics addressed will include challenges and lessons learned, strategies for identification and training of trainers, methods for the provision of ongoing technical assistance, and the evaluation components of the dissemination efforts. The session will also describe how participants can access training and intervention materials.