Improving Child Health Outcomes through Prevention and Intervention among Women at Risk of Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother consumed 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 a federally funded initiative to prevent FASD. The combined interventions address the risk of prenatal alcohol exposure by targeting women at pre-conception, pregnancy, and following birth. Approaches also vary 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 Three prevention/intervention approaches will be compared and discussed. Final study data are based on face-to-face interviews with participating women over three years. Each intervention uses a separate screening and follow-up assessment battery of instruments to determine program eligibility, participation completion, and outcomes.ResultsResults show that these interventions have helped women to 1) achieve abstinence (65 to 98 percent), 2) use effective contraception (60 to 70 percent), and/or 3) use partner, family, and community support in achieving goals. ConclusionsCurrent data and outcomes suggest that these interventions are viable strategies for improving infant and child health community-wide.