Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy

Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a growing concern in South Africa. In the Western Cape, prevalence rates for FAS are the highest in the world. Not surprisingly, the Western Cape also has some of the highest levels of alcohol consumption per capita. Although FAS is primarily caused by alcohol consum...

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Main Authors: A. Jansen van Vuuren, D. Learmonth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2013-02-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3652
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author A. Jansen van Vuuren
D. Learmonth
author_facet A. Jansen van Vuuren
D. Learmonth
author_sort A. Jansen van Vuuren
collection DOAJ
description Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a growing concern in South Africa. In the Western Cape, prevalence rates for FAS are the highest in the world. Not surprisingly, the Western Cape also has some of the highest levels of alcohol consumption per capita. Although FAS is primarily caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the high rate of FAS in South Africa originates from a multitude of complex factors. These factors include heritage, poverty, high levels of unemployment and low-paid menial jobs, depression, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, increased accessibility to alcohol, lack of recreation, poor education, familial pressure, denial, cultural misconceptions and the smaller physiques of some of the women in the Western Cape. Holistic and comprehensive macro- and micro-level approaches are necessary in order to change the alcohol consumption trend that has developed over the last 300 years. No single strategy will reduce or eliminate the burden of alcohol misuse in this society. However, as the presented discussion suggests, combining the spirit of motivational interviewing (MI) with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) practice, borrowed from health psychological interventions for lifestyle-related chronic health conditions, holds promise for reducing the prevalence of FAS within Western Cape communities. These individual-based approaches have yet to be employed in South Africa despite the wealth of evidence that demonstrates their potential in targeting high-risk groups and reducing per capita alcohol consumption.
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spelling doaj-art-8a4c719d23f64510a5a1a93126fb19cd2025-08-20T03:47:10ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042013-02-0155110.1080/20786204.2013.108743044856Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapyA. Jansen van Vuuren0D. Learmonth1University of Cape TownUniversity of Cape TownFoetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a growing concern in South Africa. In the Western Cape, prevalence rates for FAS are the highest in the world. Not surprisingly, the Western Cape also has some of the highest levels of alcohol consumption per capita. Although FAS is primarily caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the high rate of FAS in South Africa originates from a multitude of complex factors. These factors include heritage, poverty, high levels of unemployment and low-paid menial jobs, depression, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, increased accessibility to alcohol, lack of recreation, poor education, familial pressure, denial, cultural misconceptions and the smaller physiques of some of the women in the Western Cape. Holistic and comprehensive macro- and micro-level approaches are necessary in order to change the alcohol consumption trend that has developed over the last 300 years. No single strategy will reduce or eliminate the burden of alcohol misuse in this society. However, as the presented discussion suggests, combining the spirit of motivational interviewing (MI) with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) practice, borrowed from health psychological interventions for lifestyle-related chronic health conditions, holds promise for reducing the prevalence of FAS within Western Cape communities. These individual-based approaches have yet to be employed in South Africa despite the wealth of evidence that demonstrates their potential in targeting high-risk groups and reducing per capita alcohol consumption.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3652foetal alcohol syndromepreventative healthspirit of motivational interviewingcognitive behaviour therapy
spellingShingle A. Jansen van Vuuren
D. Learmonth
Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
South African Family Practice
foetal alcohol syndrome
preventative health
spirit of motivational interviewing
cognitive behaviour therapy
title Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
title_full Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
title_fullStr Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
title_full_unstemmed Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
title_short Spirit(ed) away: Preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
title_sort spirit ed away preventing foetal alcohol syndrome with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy
topic foetal alcohol syndrome
preventative health
spirit of motivational interviewing
cognitive behaviour therapy
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3652
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