Improving child health outcomes through prevention and intervention among women at risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies

Background

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. Approximately 40,000 babies are born each year in the United States with FASD, and the public health costs for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) alone are estimated at over $6 billion a year. Project CHOICES, Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI), and the Parent-Child Assistance Program (P-CAP) are three evidence-based interventions being implemented nationally through an initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to prevent FASD. The interventions address risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies by targeting women at various stages, including pre-conception, pregnancy, and following birth. The programs also offer a range of approaches in intensity and duration, including: brief interventions (SBI), 4-session interventions (CHOICES), and 3-year case management (P-CAP). Data will be shared on integrating approaches to meet community needs and on client outcomes.

Methods

Data are based on face-to-face interviews with the participating women. Each intervention utilizes a separate screening and follow-up assessment battery of instruments to determine program eligibility, participation completion, and outcomes.

Results

Results have shown interventions as affective in helping women to: 1) achieve abstinence (42% - 96%); 2) utilize effective contraception (74%); and/or 3) utilize partner, family, and community support in achieving goals. Findings are based on two years of data.

Conclusions

Three prevention/intervention approaches will be compared and discussed based on current data and outcomes as viable strategies to improve infant and child health community-wide.