Last ned - Helsedirektoratet

Information on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
• Public information should be the cornerstone of preventive work, with a clear and
unequivocal recommendation of abstinence as a central ingredient.
• There is need for strategies that can secure continuity in the information activities.
New generations should be provided with up-to-date knowledge.
• Information activities should range from national health information campaigns,
warning labels on alcoholic beverages, leaflets etc. to direct verbal information on an
individual basis. There should be an emphasis on interdisciplinary cooperation, since
the target group for information moves across all regular health and welfare service
boundaries.
• Since alcohol harms the foetus before the woman knows that she is pregnant,
information on the dangers of alcohol during pregnancy should be part of the
curriculum in education of teens between 13 and 19 years.
• For pregnant women who have already consumed alcohol, it should be stressed that
future abstinence will reduce the risk considerably.
Improving competence
Education on alcohol, pregnancy and children with FAS/FAE should be part of basic and
supplementary training for all relevant professional groups.
It is recommended that a national centre of competence is established as well as local
centres for treatment of pregnant women and diagnosing/treatment of children with
FAS/FAE.
The national centre of competence will be responsible for
• Information campaigns as well as developing other information strategies in
cooperation with central authorities.
• Developing educational material for schools and institutions of higher learning that
educate professionals involved in maternity care or treatment of, education of or care
for children with FAS/FAE.
• Update/implement methods for screening for alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
• Develop guidelines for diagnostic measures, treatment and follow up of children with
FAS/FAE and their families.
• Try out an “advocate model” (a person with knowledge of FAS/FAE who follows the
child and the family on all arenas) and consider whether this model should be
developed in Norway
• Initiate research cooperation between the Nordic countries and stimulate new
research projects in Norway.
Local centres for diagnosing and treatment
Furthermore it is recommended that local centres are established with suitable staff for
diagnostic examination and treatment of FAS/FAE. These centres should cooperate closely
with appropriate treatment institutions/reinforced outpatient clinics and maternity wards.
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