title: Maternal factors predicting cognitive and behavioral characteristics of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an analysis of multiple predictors of cognitive and behavioral traits for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Multivariate correlation techniques were used with maternal and child data from epidemiologic studies in a community in South Africa. Data on 561 first-grade children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial FAS (PFAS), and not FASD and their mothers were analyzed by grouping 19 maternal variables into categories (physical, demographic, childbearing, and drinking) and used in structural equation models (SEMs) to assess correlates of child intelligence (verbal and nonverbal) and behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A first SEM using only 7 maternal alcohol use variables to predict cognitive/behavioral traits was statistically significant (B = 3.10, p < .05) but explained only 17.3% of the variance. The second model incorporated multiple maternal variables and was statistically significant explaining 55.3% of the variance. Significantly correlated with low intelligence and problem behavior were demographic (B = 3.83, p < .05) (low maternal education, low socioeconomic status [SES], and rural residence) and maternal physical characteristics (B = 2.70, p < .05) (short stature, small head circumference, and low weight). Childbearing history and alcohol use composites were not statistically significant in the final complex model and were overpowered by SES and maternal physical traits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although other analytic techniques have amply demonstrated the negative effects of maternal drinking on intelligence and behavior, this highly controlled analysis of multiple maternal influences reveals that maternal demographics and physical traits make a significant enabling or disabling contribution to child functioning in FASD.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 28081, USA. philip_may@unc.edu
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Barbara G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Tabachnick
authors.forename: J Phillip
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gossage
authors.forename: Wendy O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Kalberg
authors.forename: Anna-Susan
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.forename: Luther K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blankenship
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: H Eugene
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hoyme
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Adnams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology