title: Study protocol for screening and diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) among young people sentenced to detention in Western Australia.
abstract: Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause lifelong disability, including physical, cognitive and behavioural deficits, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Among individuals with FASD, engagement with justice services is common. Little is known about the prevalence of FASD among young people engaged with the Australian justice system. This study aims to establish FASD prevalence among sentenced young people in detention in Western Australia (WA), and use the findings to develop a screening tool for use among young people entering detention. Translation of these results will guide the management and support of young people in detention and will have significant implications on the lives of young people with FASD and the future of Australian youth justice services.
  
  
  
  Any sentenced young person in WA aged 10-17 years 11 months is eligible to participate. Young people are assessed for FASD by a multidisciplinary team. Standardised assessment tools refined for the Australian context are used, acknowledging the language and social complexities involved. Australian diagnostic guidelines for FASD will be applied. Information is obtained from young people, responsible adults, teachers and custodial officers. Individualised results and management plans for each young person are communicated to the young person and responsible adult. Prevalence of FASD will be reported and multivariate methods used to identify variables most predictive of FASD and to optimise the predictive value of screening.
  
  
  
  Approvals have been granted by the WA Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee, University of WA Human Research Ethics Committee, Department of Corrective Services, and Department for Child Protection and Family Support. Anonymised findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations and the media. Extensive consultation with stakeholders (including government agencies, detention centre staff, community service providers, the young people and their families or carers) will be ongoing until findings are disseminated and translated.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia School of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Hayley M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5031-2593
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Passmore
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence "Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health", Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Roslyn
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9016-1251
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giglia
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence "Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health", Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Rochelle E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia School of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence "Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health", Perth, Western Australia, Australia Department of Health Western Australia, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Raewyn C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6654-8237
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pestell
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence "Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health", Perth, Western Australia, Australia Faculty of Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Zubrick
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rainsford
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Noni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence "Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health", Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacinta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kippin
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Safe
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence "Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health", Perth, Western Australia, Australia Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1138-2756
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bower
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology