International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Alcohol, smoking, and drug abuse

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes a range of permanent birth defects and disabilities resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. It includes the most severely affected with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and others who have fetal alcohol effects or alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder. Some Canadian Aboriginal communities have identified FASD prevention as a priority; however, strategies to reduce alcohol use during/beyond pregnancy warrant both local and national attention. Many barriers have impeded the development of successful strategies in some Aboriginal communities. Examples include: a) lack of research capacity leading to a reliance on non-community researchers; and b) historically-grounded disjunctures in research priorities, protocols, and methodologies between some academic researchers and Aboriginal communities.

Objectives/Methods: We describe the methods of a Canadian FASD prevention project that bridges the Aboriginal/Academic researcher gap by implementing collaborative research partnerships. Aboriginal community members in four communities developed community-specific interventions utilizing local knowledge and expertise. University-based researchers provided examples of research tools and a structured approach which supported community-based researchers in conducting the research.

Results/Conclusion: Methods were well received and bi-directional capacity-building took place. All 4 interventions incorporated local/indigenous knowledge. Final characteristics ranged between close similarities to the introduced 'Fleming' brief alcohol intervention model and a more comprehensive case management approach. Preliminary results indicate the interventions are both acceptable and effective.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)