Past Activities - International Research

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance and Prevention Project - Republic of South Africa

FAS is a major public health problem in South Africa. Some of the highest rates of FAS in the world come from studies conducted among school children in South African communities. Identifying children with prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the many challenges in South Africa. However, providing services to children once they are diagnosed and developing prevention and treatment strategies for women are also critical.

CDC and the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research, in collaboration with the National Health Laboratory Services and the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), worked together to build capacity in case finding and surveillance, epidemiology, data management and analysis, and FAS prevention in South Africa. The purposes of this cooperative agreement were to:

• Develop ongoing surveillance for FAS
• Estimate the prevalence of FAS in South African provinces
• Investigate, implement, and evaluate prevention strategies
• Complete needs assessments detailing the availability and gaps in alcohol prevention and treatment services for women and intervention services for children
• Develop local epidemiology capacity through training of key study staff

Related Publications

Evaluation of a service provider short course for prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 2011;72:530-535
Mwansa-Kambafwile J, Rendall-Mkosi K, Jacobs R, Nel E, London L
[Read Summary]

Alcohol consumption, nutrition, cardiovascular disease and iron status in South Africa: Implications for South Africa’s drinking guidelines 
South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 2010;23(3)(Supplement 1)
Morojele N
[Read Summary]

Predictors of Risk of Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies Among Women in an Urban and a Rural Area of South Africa
Social Science & Media; February 2010; 70(4):534-542
Morojele NK, London L, Olorunju SA, Matjila MJ, Davids AS, Rendall-Mkosi KM
[Read summary]

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention in South Africa and Other Low-Resource Countries
American Journal of Public Health; 2005; 95(7):1099-1101
Rosenthal J, Christianson A, Cordero J.
[Read summary]

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – South Africa, 2001
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; 2003; 52(28):660-662
Viljoen D, Craig P, Hymbaugh K, Boyle C.
[Read article]