Home > Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: health needs assessment.

United Kingdom. Department of Health & Social Care. (2021) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: health needs assessment. London: Department of Health and Social Care.

External website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fetal-a...


Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) refers to the range of neurodevelopmental problems caused by pre-natal exposure to alcohol. The effects are diverse and impact on the individual throughout their life course.

This document is a health needs assessment for people living with FASD, their carers and families, and those at risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies in England. It was written following a series of roundtable events in 2018, between the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), and policy makers from DHSC, experts and people with lived experience. Developed in collaboration with a range of professionals around the country, it should provide an accessible and reliable source of information for those wishing to engage with the issue regardless of their background.

The needs identified for this population group focus on:

  • a lack of robust prevalence estimates in England
  • the importance of multi-sector working to support individuals through the life course
  • better training and awareness for health professionals
  • better organisation of services to improve accessibility
  • a need to develop innovative approaches to support those living with the condition

Although there are few reliable sources of data to inform a strongly quantitative health needs assessment, this document takes a wide-ranging approach not only to identify areas where the needs of this population group are not being met, but to put this in context. For this reason, sections on policy, law and ethics are included as well as a section focussing on the voices of those affected by FASD. This document should be seen as a starting point for those wishing to learn more about the issue, and the reference list should be a useful tool for further reading.

Item Type
Report
Publication Type
International, Guideline, Report
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Prevention, Harm reduction
Date
9 September 2021
Publisher
Department of Health and Social Care
Corporate Creators
United Kingdom. Department of Health & Social Care
Place of Publication
London
EndNote
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