Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance

May 23, 2002

ATLANTA (CDC) -- Despite the fact that it is totally preventable, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) continues to be a major public health problem in the United States.

CDC, in conjunction with four states, has developed the first state-based program specifically designed to monitor trends in the occurrence of FAS. The program, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance Network (FASSNet), reports that many children continue to be affected by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. The rate of FAS in children born during 1995 through 1997 in the four states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and New York) ranged from 0.3 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births and varied by state and by race/ethnicity.

Even though higher rates are reported among blacks and American Indian and Alaskan Native populations, this may reflect, in part, closer scrutiny and better reporting among these populations. Reducing the prevalence of FAS is an objective of Healthy People 2010.