The association of prenatal alcohol exposure on the cognitive abilities and behaviour profiles of 4-year-old children: a prospective cohort study

• ObjectiveTo examine the association of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on cognitive abilities and behaviour profiles of 4-year-old children. DesignProspective cohort study. SettingCape Town, South Africa. PopulationA cohort of 500 children. MethodsChildren from the Safe Passage Study, which prospectively collected PAE, were included. Cognition and behavioural profiles were assessed. Children with and without PAE were compared. Mean scores were compared, with P <= 0.05 considered significant. Results were adjusted for confounding factors. Main outcome measuresThe Kaufman Assessment Battery for children measured intellectual and mental ability; the NEPSY-II instrument assessed neurocognitive performance. The caregiver completed the Preschool Child Behaviour checklist to rate the child's problem behaviours and competencies. ResultsTwo hundred children had no PAE, 117 children had mild to moderate PAE (with no binge episodes), 113 children had heavy PAE (with one or two binge episodes), and 70 children had very heavy PAE (with three or more binge episodes). Women who binge drank had significantly higher rates of smoking, marijuana use, and methamphetamine use. Low to moderate PAE had no effect on cognitive ability and behaviour. Very heavy PAE was associated with problems performing simultaneous as well as sequential functions, lower scores in the language and sensorimotor domain, and more attention and pervasive developmental problems. ConclusionsLow to moderate PAE was not associated with cognitive processing or developmental problems. Women who had many binge drinking episodes during pregnancy were the most at risk for cognitive processing, neurocognitive, and behaviour problems in their children at 4 years of age. Tweetable abstractLow to moderate prenatal alcohol use was not associated with cognitive or behavioural problems in 4-year-olds. Tweetable abstract Low to moderate prenatal alcohol use was not associated with cognitive or behavioural problems in 4-year-olds.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Alcohol

behaviour

cognitive function

neurocognitive function

pregnancy

prenatal alcohol exposure

light drinking

binge drinking

early-pregnancy

age

deficits

risk

intelligence

consumption

attention

patterns

Alcohol

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