The effectiveness of a community-based intervention program for women at-risk for giving birth to a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
The goal of this study was to determine whether the First Steps program (modeled after the Parent-Child Assistance Program) resulted in improved outcomes among women at-risk for giving birth to a child with FASD. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data on 70 participants in the First Steps program. Clients were high risk and faced many life challenges, including: being on welfare, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse as children, mental health issues, criminal activity, and unplanned pregnancies. We found a significant increase in birth control use and decrease in welfare rates from pre- to post-program. At program exit, many participants were abstinent from alcohol and/or drugs and the majority did not experience a subsequent pregnancy. Clients also showed significant increases in goals and decreases in needs from pre-to post-program. The First Steps program demonstrated promising outcomes for women at-risk for giving birth to a child with FASD.
Rasmussen
Carmen
C
University of Alberta, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada. carmen@ualberta.ca
Kully-Martens
Katrina
K
Denys
Kennedy
K
Badry
Dorothy
D
Henneveld
Dorothy
D
Wyper
Katy
K
Grant
Therese
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003267:Contraception; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult