Publications by authors named "Mary-Rose Faulkner"
Article Synopsis
- Children and youths diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) at the Sunny Hill Centre in British Columbia, Canada, were studied, revealing a mean age of 9.7 years and an array of physical and mental health disorders linked to prenatal substance exposure.
- Prenatal exposure to substances like cigarettes, cocaine, and opioids significantly increased the severity of FASD, with heightened odds of severe outcomes and involvement in the child welfare system.
- Maternal mental health issues and poor nutrition further compounded the severity of FASD, emphasizing the need for screening of pregnant women for substance use, mental health, and nutritional status.
Background: Chronic medical conditions (CMCs) and poverty commonly co-occur and, while both have been shown to independently increase the risk of perinatal mental illness, their collective impact has not been examined.
Methods: This population-based study included 853 433 Ontario (Canada) women with a singleton live birth and no recent mental healthcare. CMCs were identified using validated algorithms and disease registries, and poverty was ascertained using neighbourhood income quintile.