This article is featured in the Healthy Living Environment Newsletter. You can subscribe here to stay updated.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a serious medical and social problem; however, they are 100% preventable. FASD have long-term negative consequences for the health of the child, their family, the healthcare system, and society.
On the one hand, this is a matter of preserving and developing human capital; on the other hand, the prevention of FASD remains insufficiently integrated into routine medical practice. In Ukraine, there is a lack of reliable data on the prevalence of these disorders, and many women do not receive clear and evidence-based information about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
In response to these challenges, in 2025–2026 the Public Health Center (PHC) implemented a series of activities aimed at providing healthcare professionals with up-to-date knowledge and practical tools for working with pregnant women and women planning pregnancy.
Analysis of the FASD situation in Ukraine
According to WHO estimates, the prevalence of FASD in Ukraine in 2019 was 50 per 10,000 children; however, these data are based on estimates and studies rather than systematic annual reporting. According to data from the National Health Service of Ukraine, in the period 2020–2024, a diagnosis of FASD was established in 363 children, which corresponds to approximately 0.05 cases per 1,000 children.
On clinical algorithms for healthcare professionals
In Ukraine, healthcare professionals mainly rely on general recommendations and training materials, while validated screening tools widely used internationally (AUDIT-C, T-ACE, TWEAK) are not yet included in the approved standards of medical care for pregnant women.
The standard of medical care “Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use” provides for mandatory screening using the AUDIT tool in medical practice only among individuals with alcohol dependence, including pregnant women and women planning pregnancy.
The standard of medical care “Normal pregnancy” describes general examinations during the first and subsequent visits but does not include clear recommendations on alcohol use assessment, structured counselling, or step-by-step algorithms for healthcare professionals.
New approaches to counselling pregnant women
To improve counselling practices, the PHC proposed a model of counselling for pregnant women in outpatient settings using the standardized AUDIT-C tool and brief interventions. This model was piloted in healthcare facilities in Kyiv within the framework of JA PreventNCD. Based on the study results, PHC will develop recommendations for further scaling up the initiative.
Training and capacity building
Within JA PreventNCD, a study titled “Assessment of healthcare professionals’ awareness of fetal FASD risks and evaluation of barriers to FASD prevention” was conducted. The results showed that only 15% of respondents had received specialized training on FASD.
For healthcare professionals working with pregnant women and involved in the initiative, a training on the effective use of motivational interviewing techniques was conducted to support healthy behaviours, particularly alcohol cessation during pregnancy.
Based on the study results, a dedicated online course on motivational counselling for working with pregnant women was developed. Over the course of the year, more than 8,500 healthcare professionals completed the course, helping them better understand the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy and more confidently provide effective counselling to patients.
Information support and community engagement
Informational materials for women and healthcare professionals were developed and disseminated, and a series of webinars was conducted for doctors, Public Health Center specialists, and the general audience. At the same time, cooperation was established with the Department of Health of the Kyiv City State Administration, the Kyiv City PHC, and healthcare facility managers. This contributed to increasing the visibility of the issue, engaging professionals, and involving the professional community in discussion and practical actions.
Sharing Evidence and Lessons Learned
PHC published an article in Modern Pediatrics examining the introduction of an AUDIT-C-based counselling model to prevent FASD within antenatal care, developed within JA PreventNCD’s task Alcohol-free Healthy Living Environment. Based on focus group discussions with healthcare professionals and women of reproductive age, the study identified implementation challenges, including limited consultation time, insufficient training in motivational interviewing, stigma related to alcohol use during pregnancy, low awareness of FASD, and limited access to reliable information.
Despite these barriers, the findings indicate that the model is feasible and has significant potential to strengthen alcohol prevention efforts, highlighting the importance of enhanced provider training and improved access to information.
The intervention was also presented at the PEACHD Final Event through an oral presentation on the pilot implementation of alcohol screening and motivational counselling in antenatal care in Ukraine. The presentation shared early lessons from introducing AUDIT-C screening and brief interventions in routine maternal healthcare, contributing to international discussions on effective approaches to prevent FASD and reduce alcohol-related harm.
For more information you can click here (in Ukranian).
Healthy Living Environments Communication Officer
Lluís Pascual i Vidal
Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community (Fisabio), Spain
