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Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries: Russia and Ukraine

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Listed:
  • Joan Colom

    (Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
    Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Lidia Segura-García

    (Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
    Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Adriana Bastons-Compta

    (Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Neonatology Unit, ICGON, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, BCNatal, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marta Astals

    (Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Neonatology Unit, ICGON, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, BCNatal, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Departament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Mèdico-Quirúrgiques, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Vicente Andreu-Fernandez

    (Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Neonatology Unit, ICGON, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, BCNatal, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Departament of Nutrition and Health, Valencian International University (VIU), 46002 Valencia, Spain)

  • Natalia Barcons

    (Pediatrics Service, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Raquel Vidal

    (Psychiatry Service, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
    Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ana I. Ibar

    (Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, 08005 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Vicky Fumadó

    (Pediatrics Service, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Nuria Gómez

    (Psychiatry Service, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
    Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Agnés Russiñol

    (Department of Labour, Social Affairs and Families, Catalan Institute for Fostering and Adoption, 08001 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Oscar Garcia-Algar

    (Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (Red SAMID), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Neonatology Unit, ICGON, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, BCNatal, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Departament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Mèdico-Quirúrgiques, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children adopted internationally from countries where alcohol consumption during pregnancy is very high are at greater risk for FASD. Lack of expertise in diagnosing FASD and mixed neurodevelopmental and behavioral signs due to abandonment complicate a timely diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FASD in adopted children. Children between the ages of 8 and 24 adopted from Russia and Ukraine were evaluated for clinical and historical features of FASD. Of the 162 children evaluated, 81 (50%) met FASD diagnostic criteria. Thirty-three (20.4%) children had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28 (17.2%) had partial FAS, 2 (1.2%) had alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and 18 (11.1%) had alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Of the 81 children in which fetal alcohol exposure could not be confirmed, many had manifestations that would have established a diagnosis of FASD if a history of maternal alcohol consumption was confirmed. In a population of children with a high risk of prenatal alcohol exposure (adoptees from Eastern European countries), at least 50% showed manifestations associated with FASD. The reported prevalence in this study is in line with the results obtained in a previous study as well as in orphanages of origin.

Suggested Citation

  • Joan Colom & Lidia Segura-García & Adriana Bastons-Compta & Marta Astals & Vicente Andreu-Fernandez & Natalia Barcons & Raquel Vidal & Ana I. Ibar & Vicky Fumadó & Nuria Gómez & Agnés Russiñol & Oscar, 2021. "Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries: Russia and Ukraine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1388-:d:492258
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peñarrubia, María & Palacios, Jesús & Román, Maite, 2020. "Executive function and early adversity in internationally adopted children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
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