Involving First Nations men in preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-09-06 03:00

Australia; NSW; WA

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men should be supported to become more involved in the prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), according to Australian researchers. In a commentary piece, the researchers outline how men, in general, have not traditionally been targeted for education on preventing FASD, and this is especially the case among Indigenous men, in part because there can be a cultural separation between men's business and women's business. The researchers say men's alcohol consumption before conception can impact the health of potential children, and their drinking habits can also influence how much their partners drink. Men should be included in conversations around alcohol and childbirth, including FASD prevention, to encourage them to be more involved in caring for their partners during pregnancy, the researchers say.