Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD is a spectrum of structural, functional, and neurodevelopmental problems with often lifelong implications, affecting communities worldwide. It is a leading preventable form of intellectual disabilities and therefore warrants effective prevention approaches. However, well-intended FASD prevention can increase stigmatization of individuals with FASD, women who consume or have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, and non-biological parents and guardians of individuals with FASD. This narrative review surveyed the literature on stigmatization related to FASD. Public stigma appears to be the most common form of stigma studied. Less is known about FASD-related self-stigma, stigma by association, and structural stigma. Accordingly, the current literature on FASD-related stigma does not appear to provide sufficient guidance for effectively reducing FASD-related stigma. However, lessons can be learned from other related health topics and the use of a systematic approach for the development of health promotion programs, namely Intervention Mapping.
Highlights
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy puts an unborn child at risk for a range of structural, functional, and often lifelong deficits that can be grouped under the category fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
Three groups of individuals can be subjected to public stigma in the context of FASD: Women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy frequently experience stigmatization
They are often seen as being in denial or secretive about their alcohol dependence, and as responsible for negative health outcomes in their children or, alternatively, ignorant about the negative health outcomes of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Summary
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy puts an unborn child at risk for a range of structural, functional, and often lifelong deficits that can be grouped under the category fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Women who consume alcohol during pregnancy, and/or have a child with FASD, and individuals with FASD, are often stigmatized (Armstrong and Abel 2000; Bell et al 2016; BMA Board of Science 2016; Corrigan et al 2017; Elliott et al 2006; Hoyme et al 2016; Jacobs and Jacobs 2014; Montag 2016; Mukherjee et al 2015; Schölin 2016; WHO 2014, 2017; Zizzo and Racine 2017). Stigmatization related to FASD can have far reaching consequences whereby, for example, biological mothers of children with FASD fear societal judgement and conceal having consumed alcohol during pregnancy (BMA Board of Science 2016).
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