A new study led by the University of Sydney and published in the “Drug and Alcohol Review” is the first Australian study to estimate FASD prevalence in the general population, using national-level modelling.
Researchers combined data on alcohol use during pregnancy in Australia with the known risk of FASD to estimate a national prevalence rate of 3.64 percent, or nearly 4 per hundred. This means that there is approximately one child in every Australian classroom who may be living with FASD.
Senior author Professor Elizabeth Elliott, who is also a Board Member of NOFASD Australia, commented “Many pregnancies resulting in a baby born with FASD are unplanned, so if you drink alcohol and are sexually active, we recommend that you use contraception.”
This landmark study was led by Dr Tracey Tsang, a senior research fellow who dedicated her career to advancing research, advocacy, and care for children with FASD. Dr Tsang passed away shortly before the study’s publication, but leaves a lasting legacy in the field of paediatric health.
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