Researcher to study Canada’s success in preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

16 Oct 2019

It takes a village to raise a child and an entire community to support pregnant women to grow healthy babies, says one University of Queensland researcher.

Associate Professor Deborah Askew’s newly awarded Churchill Fellowship will allow her to learn from urban First Nations communities in Canada and Alaska about how they have successfully reduced rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

Dr Askew said FASD prevention strategies needed culturally appropriate and community-focused solutions.

“It is easy to blame the victim in all spheres of life,” she said.

Dr Askew said the Fellowship would allow her to bring back to Australia knowledge of successful programs that are working in Canadian and Alaskan First Nations urban communities, rather than having to start a new program from the ground up.

Read full story on UQ News

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