@article{ref1,
title="Characterizing adverse childhood experiences among children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2020",
author="Rasmussen, Carmen and Kapasi, Aamena and Flannigan, Katherine and Andrew, Gail and Murdoch, Isabel and Pei, Jacqueline",
volume="112",
number="",
pages="e104888-e104888",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) face elevated rates of postnatal environmental adversity  across the lifespan. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: We explored early adversity among children and  adolescents with PAE. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Our sample included 333 children and  adolescents with PAE assessed at a Canadian FASD diagnostic clinic, 66% of whom were  diagnosed with FASD. <br><br>METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively via record review,  and adversity was measured using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire  (ACE-Q). <br><br>RESULTS: Participants experienced high levels of adversity (mean ACE score  of 3.4), which increased with age, mental health comorbidityes, and number of living  placements. Common ACEs included: not being raised by both biological parents  (97.3%), caregiver disruption (88.5%), and exposure to household substance use  (69.7%). Females had significantly higher rates of sexual abuse than males (p <.001, ø = -0.18). There was no difference in total ACE scores between participants  diagnosed with FASD versus those not diagnosed, but participants with FASD were less  likely to live with both biological parents (p <.001, ø =.19) or to have been  exposed to household mental health problems (p =.007, ø = -0.15). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS:  Children and adolescents with PAE experience high rates of early adversity. Practice  and policy initiatives are needed to improve early detection of ACEs among children  with PAE and PAE among children with ACEs. Targeted supports are needed to  strengthen the early caregiving environment and mitigate the risks of adversity to  support healthy outcomes for individuals with PAE and FASD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104888",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104888"
}