Women need clear alcohol message

By REBECCA WALSH

New Zealand women need to be given a clear and consistent message that they should not drink during pregnancy, a visiting Canadian expert on foetal alcohol syndrome says.

Dr Kwadwo Ohene Asante, medical director of The Asante Centre for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, said the message against drinking and driving was one people were willing to promote but there was a reluctance among doctors to advise women against drinking any alcohol during pregnancy.

"There's only one advice. Alcohol in pregnancy causes brain damage to the foetus," he said.

"What is it in the New Zealand culture that prevents physicians from telling women not to drink during pregnancy?"

Dr Asante said children might not have the obvious symptoms of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), such as unusual facial features and deformities to the limbs but could still suffer the effects of their mother's drinking.

They might not do as well as they could at school, suffer learning difficulties and have behavioural problems.

International figures suggested about 2 to 3 babies in every 1000 have FAS. Three to four times as many were estimated to suffer partial effects.

Dr Asante, who has 30 years' experience working in the field, said it was that group that often went undiagnosed. As they grew older many got into trouble with the law.

Asante Centre psychologist Dr Julianne Conry said studies had shown a high percentage of criminal offenders had FAS. One study suggested the number was as high as 23 per cent among a group of youth offenders.

Courts were beginning to recognise the syndrome, and in some cases instead of being jailed, offenders with FAS were given alternatives.

Dr Conry said FAS was not an excuse for crime but early diagnosis meant people could be offered help.

Staff from the Asante Centre were brought to New Zealand by the Alcohol Advisory Council to educate doctors, teachers, social workers and lay people about FAS and help ensure more accurate diagnosis of the syndrome here.