Canadian Children and Youth in Care: The Cost of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Svetlana Popova,Larry Burd,Jürgen Rehm,Shannon Lange

doi:10.1007/s10566-013-9226-x

Abstract

BackgroundA high prevalence of prenatal alcohol exposure has been reported among children in care and thus, the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in this population is high.ObjectiveThe purpose of the current study was to estimate the number of children (0–18 years) in care with FASD and to determine the associated cost by age group, gender, and province/territory in Canada in 2011.MethodsThe prevalence of children in care by province/territory was obtained from the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal, and the number of children in care with FASD for each province/territory was estimated from available epidemiological studies. In order to calculate the total cost per province/territory, the cost per individual per day, by age group, was applied to the respective number of children in care with FASD.ResultsThe estimated number of children in care with FASD ranged from 2,225 to 7,620, with an annual cost of care ranging from $57.9 to $198.3 million Canadian dollars (CND). The highest overall cost ($29.5 to $101.1 million CND) was for 11–15 year-olds.ConclusionThe study findings can be used to demonstrate the substantial economic burden that FASD places on the child welfare system. Attention towards the needs of this population and prevention efforts to reduce FASD incidence in Canada, and other countries are urgently needed.

Highlights

Children and youth1 in care represent a unique population with disproportionately increased rates of developmental disabilities, congenital malformations, mental health diagnoses, and social maladjustment (Chernoff et al 1994; Fuchs et al 2008; Harman et al 2000; Hostetter et al 1991; Lindblad et al 2003).Children who are placed in care often are due to a number of unfavourable circumstances, such as, parental and/or drug problems, child abuse and/or neglect, child abandonment, and young maternal age
Background A high prevalence of prenatal alcohol exposure has been reported among children in care and the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in this population is high
The purpose of the current study was to estimate the number of children (0–18 years) in care with FASD and to determine the associated cost by age group, gender, and province/territory in Canada in 2011

Summary

Objective

The purpose of the current study was to estimate the number of children (0–18 years) in care with FASD and to determine the associated cost by age group, gender, and province/territory in Canada in 2011. Methods The prevalence of children in care by province/territory was obtained from the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal, and the number of children in care with FASD for each province/territory was estimated from available epidemiological studies. Rehm Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. S. Popova Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Rehm Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada. Child Youth Care Forum (2014) 43:83–96 to calculate the total cost per province/territory, the cost per individual per day, by age group, was applied to the respective number of children in care with FASD

Results

Introduction

Ethics Statement

Discussion