Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part B (2025)

Maternal alcohol consumption and foetal alcohol spectrum disorders are significant public health concerns within Australia, with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders the leading cause of preventable brain damage and developmental disability nationwide. Whilst maternal alcohol consumption rates are consistently declining, disadvantaged Australian communities are disproportionately impacted.

This systematic review endeavours to identify maternal alcohol consumption and foetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevention strategies that have been implemented within Australia, evaluate their effectiveness and provide a perspective on possible further avenues of research and focus.

A systematic search was conducted of four databases was conducted: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, PubMed for the keywords: Alcohol AND pregnan* AND Australia AND intervention OR program* AND prevent* or reduc*.

494 titles were returned and underwent title and abstract screening which left 17 full text articles for review, eventually providing five articles which met eligibility for inclusion. Of these articles, four were randomised control trials and one was analysed survey data on behavioural change. Education and advice-based programs were effective in reducing maternal alcohol consumption in ‘low-risk’ groups, being most impactful in reducing ‘special occasion drinking’, however showed limited efficacy for those within ‘at/high-risk’ groups.

Overall, Australian rates of maternal alcohol consumption/ foetal alcohol spectrum disorders are declining. However, there are limited studies observing maternal alcohol consumption / foetal alcohol spectrum disorders reduction/prevention strategies within Australia, with a distinct paucity of studies targeting ‘at/high-risk’ communities and women. Broad population-based awareness, education and advice programs are largely effective at reinforcing behaviour change in ‘low-risk’ groups. Further studies observing interventions targeting ‘at/high-risk’ individuals and communities are recommended.