Alcohol use during pregnancy and FASD are significant public health issues warranting more attention and action. With this report we emphasise the need to raise awareness of alcohol use during pregnancy and of FASD, prioritise screening and the diagnosing of FASD, as well as the prevention of FASD in societies. Healthcare professionals including medical professionals are the catalysts for these actions, which can positively influence the individual’s life and wellbeing and help them reach their full potential of being active members of society, which also benefits the society itself.
From an individual’s perspective, the diagnostic assessment and diagnosis within the FASD spectrum can positively influence the wellbeing of the exposed individual and their family. The diagnosis may provide explanations and preparedness for the potential difficulties an exposed individual may encounter in everyday life and assist in acquiring help and support at an early stage. It can help to find appropriate services and support options for the individual with FASD and for the family. Furthermore, it can also help to communicate within and outside the family and find peer support or others experiencing similar difficulties. An early diagnosis and the right support and follow-up can prevent an affected individual from experiencing other problems later in life such as educational challenges, mental health issues, or challenges to establish adult independence.
Delayed diagnosis or misclassification of outcomes can lead to unrealistic developmental expectations, inappropriate care, increased risk of behavioural and social problems later in life, missed opportunities for prevention, and inaccurate estimates of the prevalence of FASD. Together, these can contribute to economic costs to societies and hinder the allocation of resources and services to the exposed population (Chudley et al., 2005; Helgesson et al., 2018).
From a societal perspective, there are many benefits and advantages to making appropriate interventions and improvements in FASD-related work. Among other things, it can help to reduce the related costs associated with FASD. Appropriate measures can also benefit FASD-related research and aim to provide better prevalence estimates. More accurate prevalence estimates can help to understand the true extent of the problem, provide a better basis for understanding the costs of FASD, and provide a basis for allocating resources to FASD-related work. In addition, these measures are also essential for the development of evidence-based interventions and other practices related to FASD.
The Nordic countries need to focus policy attention and priority on the public health problem of alcohol use during pregnancy and its consequences for the child in particular. This innocent population group has to live with the consequences of another person’s risky behaviour for the rest of their lives. They deserve to be seen, identified, and diagnosed (if necessary) to receive the appropriate support and services they need in order to live a healthy life and reach their full potential, which is also beneficial for society.