Health Topic: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause significant birth defects, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS is the leading known cause of mental retardation, which can be prevented. Rates of FAS are higher among American Indians and Alaska Natives than the general population. Reports show that most cases of FAS are found among the southwestern Indians, followed by Alaska and Arizona. These cases are higher than any other race or ethnicity. Studies show that alcohol consumption rates among AI/AN women are higher than national averages.

Who should be screened?
All pregnant women should be screened for alcohol use.

What is the GPRA measure?
The GPRA measure is the percentage of IHS AI/AN female patients ages 15 to 44 that have been screened for alcohol use during the year.

How is IHS doing?
IHS has not established a long-term goal for this measure. The IHS 2012 goal was to achieve the rate of 58.7% for the proportion of female patients ages 15-44 who receive screening for alcohol use. IHS exceeded the goal by reaching 63.8%. The bars on the graph below show that IHS has increased the rate of alcohol screening from 7% in 2004 to 63.8% in 2012. However, beginning in 2010 refusals was removed from the rates. So, the 2004-2009 rates cannot be compared with the 2010-2012 rates.

View a table of this chart's data.

To see how IHS is doing on this measure at the Area (regional) levels, click here.