...Table in content What is Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 How is FAS characterized in the community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Describe how babies with FAS are affected? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In your view what are the symptoms of long-term alcohol use? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What kind of role has the South African context played in FAS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFRENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This assignment will research Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in light of the South African context. Attention will be given to understanding what FAS is; how is FAS characterized; the impact that alcohol has on brain development; and the effect that FAS has on a baby with the diagnosis. Furthermore, the role that the South African context plays in FAS will be explored. What is Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) The foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of physical malformations observed in the offspring of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy. (By Abel, Ernest Psychological Bulletin, Vol 87(1), Jan 1980, 29-50.) ----1. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a serious health problem that tragically affects its victims and their families, but that is completely preventable. Causing...
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...observing the effects of alcohol on the growing fetus. Firstly, the issue will be to identify ways in which consumption of alcohol affects pre and postnatal conception. Barnes and Bradley (1990) assert consumption of alcohol during pregnancy may have serious consequences for the fetus. Furthermore, the importance of current health initiatives relating to fetal alcohol syndrome will be addressed, including preventable measures. In addition, throughout the assignment, one will abbreviate Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects to FAS/E Barnes and Bradley (1990) emphasise alcohol travels through the blood stream to affect the sperm, egg and fetus. Professor Kaufman 1988 (in Barnes and Bradley 1991,p.98) suggests “no alcohol in the preconception preparation stage for both partners”, and during pregnancy for the women. Similarly, Stroebe (2000) stipulate women should not drink alcohol for the duration of pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects termed fetal alcohol syndrome. Moreover, Beattie 1981 (in Booth and Williams 1985, p75) highlight social and constant heavy drinking especially in the first trimester of pregnancy can damage the normal growth of the fetus. In support of this Zieman (2004) assert drinking during the first trimester is the most serious, and babies exposed to alcohol at this most crucial time often have small brains and physical problems, what's more these babies can develop severe learning difficulties. Zieman (2004) additionally suggest alcohol crosses the placenta...
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...II Ina M. Kamaitytė, Professor 12 December, 2001 Alcoholism Thousands of years ago people began to make alcohol for practical reasons. Wine making began with the early Egyptians who found that grape juise spoiled quickly, but that fermented juise or wine would keep without spoiling. They also had problems with impure water, and the Egyptians noticed that people did not sick ower wine, but they often became ill when they drank inpure water. In later years, wine became inportant to the Roman Catholic Church throughout Europe because wine was used to celebrate the sacrament of the Mass. By the 1300’s, beer industry had emerged in Central Europe. At this time, wine was also continuing to grow in popularity; many brands named for the places in which they originated. At first alcohol was desined for the practical reasons, its use changed. People began to experiment with different types of alcohol. Alcohol became an integral part of European culture. We need to understand the harmful effects of alcohol, because it can be fatal. "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial." (http://www.ncadd.org/facts/defalc.html)...
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...fetal alcohol syndrome ( FAS) , alcohol-related birth defects ( ARBD) , and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND) . The three main types of research methods used in these studies are passive surveillance, clinic-based studies, and active case ascertainment. This article describes each of these methods, including their strengths and weaknesses, and summarizes the estimated prevalence of FAS produced by each of these approaches. The maternal risk factors associated with FAS and other alcohol-related anomalies include advanced maternal age, low socioeconomic status, frequent binge drinking, family and friends with drinking problems, and poor social and psychological indicators. Overall, the available literature points to a prevalence rate of FAS of 0.5 to 2 cases per 1,000 births in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. KEY WORDS: fetal alcohol syndrome; prevalence; epidemiological indicators; alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder; birth defects; statistical estimation; data collection; clinical aspects; population dynamics; risk factors; research in practice; research quality Establishing the prevalence 1 (1 See the sidebar on page 160 for the definition of prevalence as it is used in this article.) and other epidemiological characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome ( FAS) , alcohol-related birth defects ( ARBD) , and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder ( ARND) 2 (2 FAS is a set of birth defects caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during...
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...Alcohol is the leading known preventable cause of mental and physical birth defects in the United States (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Revisited). When a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy she risks giving birth to a child who will have mental and physical deficiencies for their entire life. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was first described and published in medical literature in 1968. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a physical abnormality most recognized in the facial features and reduced size of newborns it can also lead to behavior problems and cognition. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused by mothers drinking heavy during pregnancy. The current recommendation of the US Surgeon General is not to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). According to the book Fetal Alcohol Syndrome one in every 750 infants are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome each year in the United States. An additional 40,000 babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Effects. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome occurs when alcohol crosses the placental barrier and it stunts fetal growth or weight, creates distinctive facial stigmata, damage neurons and brain structures, and causes other physical, mental, or behavioral problems. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused by prenatal exposure to high level of alcohol. Many people think of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as a drunken baby or a baby addicted to alcohol but Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is not either. According to the book Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS...
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...The Arc was founded in 1950 by a small group of concerned parents and community members in Minneapolis, MN. They had decided to come together and act as voices for those with intellectual disabilities. At that time there was very limited information known about intellectual disabilities, or mental retardation as they used to say, and the causes of it. Because of this, there were practically no programs or activities for these kids in order to help with the development, care, and support for families. At that time, it was extremely common for a physician to tell a parent their child would be better suited at an institution. This is when The Arc’s founders decided to fight because they wanted more for their children and wanted them to lead a fulfilling life. The Arc works passionately to ensure that every individual with a mental disability and their parents have access to information, advocacy, and skills they need in order to participate as an active citizen and member of their community. This organization is committed to altering the perceptions of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition they also secure services for these individuals who have been denied an education, day care and preschool, and the right to work (The Arc, n.d.). This organization has adapted accordingly due to the sensitive terminology that has had an impact on these individuals. The term ‘mental retardation’ was used vastly as the appropriate terminology in the medical...
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...the first phase of prenatal development, encompassing the first two weeks after conception. The placenta is a structure that allows oxygen and nutrients to pass into the fetus from the mother’s bloodstream and bodily wastes to pass out to the mother. Embryonic Stage. The embryonic stage is the second stage of prenatal development, lasting from two weeks until the end of the second month. Fetal Stage. The fetal stage is the third stage of prenatal development, lasting from two months through birth. Environmental Factors and Prenatal Development. Teratogens are any external agents, such as drugs or viruses, that can harm an embryo or fetus. Maternal Drug Use. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a collection of congenital (inborn) problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most common known cause of mental retardation. Maternal Illness and Exposure to Toxins. The fetus is largely defenseless against infections because its immune system matures relatively late in the prenatal period. Maternal Nutrition and Emotions. Important to consume a balanced diet that includes crucial vitamins and minerals. Prospective mothers’ emotional reactions to stressful events can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance that fosters healthy prentatal development Fetal Origins of Disease. Events during prenatal development can “program” the fetal...
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...Chapter 5 terms | | adolescence | the transition period between childhood and adulthood. | | | | Alzheimer's disease | a degenerative disease marked by progressive cognitive decline and characterized by a collection of symptoms, including confusion, memory loss, mood swings, and eventual loss of physical function. | | | | animistic thinking | belief that inanimate objects are alive. | | | | anxious-avoidant | attachment style characterized by infants who stay calm when their primary caregiver leaves and who ignore and avoid her when she returns. | | | | anxious-resistant attachment | attachment style characterized by infants who are ambivalent when separated and reunited with their caregiver. | | | | attachment | the strong emotional connection that develops early in life between infants and their caregivers. | | | | concrete operational stage | Piaget's third stage of cognitive development, which spans ages 6–11, during which the child can perform mental operations—such as reversing—on real objects or events. | | | | conservation | recognition that when some properties (such as shape) of an object change, other properties (such as volume) remain constant. | | | | conventional level | the second level in Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning, during which the person values caring, trust, and relationships as well as the social order and lawfulness. | | | ...
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...Alcohol is said to affect the function of the placenta (125). Fetal alcohol syndrome is one disorder brought on by prenatal exposure to alcohol (125). Some of the defects that are associated with FAS is indicated by features such as an abnormally small head, along many disfigurements in the heart, face, joint and limbs, also including low birth weights (125). Some neurological damages may cause them to have seizures, be irritable, and hyperactive, and also learning development can be hindered by FAS (125). Harmful effects to a child when exposed to nicotine as a fetus can cause restrictions in growth and can also contribute to the risk of unexpected miscarriages and death. Also by the lack of oxygen going to the baby as the mother smokes, the babies respiratory system would suffer from severe complications. and...
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...Fetal alcohol syndrome is when a fetus is exposed to alcohol before birth. It can cause a variety of different problems. One of the most severe effects of drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome. FAS is one of the preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects. If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy the baby can be born with FAS, is a lifelong physically and mentally disability. FAS has distinctly abnormal facial features, a growth problem, and central neurological problems. People who suffer from FAS may either have problems have learning disabilities, memory, attention span, communication with others. These problems often lead to struggles in school or social problems like getting along with others. FAS is a lifelong condition. However...
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...All the intellectually disabled have one thing in common which is the disability they have. However, they differ in every other aspect. The main characteristics of the intellectually disabled fall under 5 criterias which are: Physical characteristics ◾An underdevelopment in physical growth ◾Average weight and height usually less than normal peers of the same chronological age ◾Physical deformation ◾Retarded movement and balance Mental characteristics ◾Less-than-average I.Q. ◾Underdeveloped speech and language skills ◾Poor: memory, attention, perception, imagination, thinking, computing and concentration Social characteristics ◾Underdeveloped ability of social adjustment ◾Lack of interests and orientations ◾Irresponsibility ◾Aloofness ◾Aggression ◾Low self-esteem Emotional characteristics ◾Emotional imbalance ◾Excessive movement ◾Evidence of premature or late reactions ◾Primitive reactions Attributes of the intellectually disabled classifications ◾EMR: ◾Provided with the appropriate educational services, certain aspects related to some academic skills (reading, writing, arithmetic) could be acquired, besides, possessing social communication skills as well as vocational rehabilitation. ◾TMR: ◾Primary educational programs. ◾Workshop training. ◾Rehabilitation programs. ◾SMR: ◾In constant need of professional and extensive care provided only within the premises of permanent boarding centers. Psychological and behavioral...
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...Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus is an anomaly which origins have been linked to both genetic and environmental factors. Saladin, (2007) has defined hydrocephalus as an abnormal accumulation of central spinal fluid (CSF) in the brain usually as a result of a blockage in the CSF flow and the subsequent reabsorption. The rate of occurrence of hydrocephalus varies by whom is asked; there are not any national registries therefore there is not a data base that can accurately depict a real number of people afflicted with this anomaly. Instances of hydrocephalus are not all associated with genetics, some other factors that have been documented are: congenital malformations, intercerebral hemorrhage, infection and maternal alcohol abuse. Two article will be discussed in the paper; one article is dedicated to genetics while the second article discusses environmental factors that have been associated with hydrocephalus. Article 1 Genetics of human hydrocephalus The article discusses that evidence is mounting that genetic factors play a role in the “pathogenesis of hydrocephalus”. Hydrocephalus has two forms; acquired and inherited. There are several documented instanced of genetic involved in hydrocephalus in animals, but the documentation that has been gathered to date is not as substantial in human hydrocephalus. “Hydrocephalus is considered complex and has multifactorial neurological defects.” It is believed that one of the possible causes is related to protein and...
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...WHAT IS FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME? Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a birth defect caused by heavy alcohol consumption (usually in a binge pattern) during pregnancy. It is characterised by growth retardation, facial and neural abnormalities as well as malformations of other organ systems. Maternal risk for giving birth to a child with FAS is known to vary substantially by population and that the risk also varies between individuals. Alcohol and its primary metabolite, acetaldehyde, are known tissue toxins which may interfere directly with cellular growth and metabolism. When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, it is carried to all her organs and tissues including the placenta. The placenta functions to protect the fetus and provides nourishment from the mother to the fetus. Alcohol is able to cross the placental membrane and is then transported directly to all developing tissues of the fetus. These adverse effects of alcohol on the developing fetus are characterised by an array of disorders, termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). They include structural anomalies as well as behavioural and neuro-cognitive disabilities. Children at the severe end of the spectrum are defined as having the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY FAS? FAS is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation worldwide, even more so than Down’s syndrome. In South Africa, FAS related research has been limited to a few at-risk...
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...daughter, my only wish was for a healthy child. The early years of a child’s life are crucial for cognitive, social, and emotional development. Prenatal care is very important and will help you to make wise decisions and increase your chances for a happy and healthy outcome. You are no longer responsible for just one person but two. The little one growing inside of you depends on your for nutrition and a safe resting place for nine months. All of the lifestyle choices you make during pregnancy will not only affect your health but also the child as well. Bad habits like alcohol, smoking, and drug use may harm your baby and bring about developmental issues. Identifying developmental issues as early as possible allows early intervention that can lead to successful treatment. The brain begins developing although still in the womb and continues to grow over time. Research has shown that exposure to alcohol in the womb is one of the leading causes of brain disorders in infants in the United States. Exposure to environmental toxins can also cause slow brain development and mental retardation. Prenatal care is one of the best ways to protect babies from brain damage. Developmental delays can have future negative effects on your child, which may lead to speech and language difficulties, behavioral problems, and learning problems. Nutrition Your baby’s development depends on proper nutrition. My doctor informed me when I was pregnant that folate and folic acid, calcium, protein...
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...Social Issue: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome p.427 The third most common cause of mental retardation in babies born in most of North America (Canada and the United States) is fetal alcohol syndrome. This illness is a result of alcohol and other harmful substances moving across the placenta. The crossing of the placenta results in the blood of the fetus being polluted by the alcohol. The placenta, unfortunately, is a selective membrane preventing only the mother’s blood from entering the blood of the fetus and not the harmful or potentially dangerous materials. This paper will contemplate whether pregnant women should refrain from consuming alcohol until their pregnancy is over. There are many reasons to support the elimination of alcohol from the diet of a pregnant woman the most dominant being the endangerment of the health of the fetus. Therefore, some believe blood test should be mandatory for all pregnant women to detect the presence of alcohol. In addition, the responsibility of the mother is exceedingly questionable because if she is willing to risk the health of the child prior to birth, if she has the patience and perseverance to care for the child after birth. Danger to the fetus is not the only concern in this position, as studies have shown the increase of the chances of cancer as well as a variety of other issues in almost all parts of the body as well as cardiovascular problems possibly leading to a double death of the mother and child. This double death may also be...
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