In a significant finding that challenges the well-trodden narrative surrounding foetal alcohol spectrum disorder FASD, a new study suggests that the role of fathers in the drinking habits of expectant parents must not be underestimated.
While the damaging effects of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy have long been established, international researchers, including contributors from Stellenbosch University SU, have uncovered evidence that suggests a fathers drinking can also negatively impact a childs growth and development.
The study, published in the journal Alcohol: Clinical Experimental Research , elaborates on the complex dynamics of alcohol use in parenting, specifically highlighting how a father's alcohol consumption may contribute to developmental challenges in children by the age of seven.