Economic Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are caused by the toxicity of alcohol that reaches the fetus via the placenta. Alcohol consumption during first trimester of pregnancy is the most critical period of teratogenic insult that increases the risk of physical, behavioral, and cognitive disorders. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is completely preventable although it is not easy to execute the prevention program. We conducted systemic review of literature related to the impact of social and economic costs of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. In the United States the FASD cost $ 6-8 billion each year directly.Indirect costs are many times more than the direct costs.  The estimates of cost differ significantly among the literature because of variable research methodology and the period of research time. Alcohol intake during pregnancy is linked with a variety of expensive and adverse fetal outcomes, abstinence , mass health education, and perinatal counselling are  worthwhile public health objectives to prevent these disorders .