Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes, yet there is no recognized standard for PAE assessment, and the specific effects of quantity, frequency, and timing remain largely unknown. The Safe Passage Study was designed to investigate the role of PAE in a continuum of poor peri- and postnatal outcomes. The objective of this manuscript is to describe the rationale for, and feasibility of, modifications to the traditional Timeline Followback (TLFB) for collecting PAE information in a large cohort of pregnant women. Participants from the Northern Plains region (in the United States) and Cape Town, South Africa, were followed prospectively using a modified 30-day TLFB interview, administered up to five times, to obtain detailed PAE information. Required modifications for our population included capturing information regarding sharing, type/brand, container size, and duration, in order to accurately record the amount of alcohol consumed. PAE status was defined for 99.9% of the 11,892 enrolled pregnancies at least once during pregnancy and for 92% across all trimesters. Of 53,823 drinks reported, 98% had all items necessary for standard drink computation. Sharing was reported for 74% of drinks in Cape Town, South Africa and for 10% in the Northern Plains. Compared to referent values from the traditional TLFB, 74% and 67% of drinks had different alcohol-by-volume and container size, respectively. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was found between the number of containers reported and the number of standard drinks computed, using information from the modified TLFB. This is the first study of this size to wholly encompass all of these changes into a single measure in order to more accurately calculate daily consumption and assess patterns over time. The methods used to collect PAE information and create alcohol exposure measures likely increased the accuracy of standard drinks reported and could be generalized to other populations.

Approximately 7% of preterm infants receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Yet, there is a significant gap in the literature in identifying prospective markers of neurodevelopmental risk in preterm infants. The present study examined two electroencephalography (EEG) parameters during infancy, absolute EEG power and aperiodic activity of the power spectral density (PSD) slope, in association with subsequent autism risk and cognitive ability in a diverse cohort of children born preterm in South Africa. Participants were 71 preterm infants born between 25 and 36 weeks gestation (34.60 ± 2.34 weeks). EEG was collected during sleep between 39 and 41 weeks postmenstrual age adjusted (40.00 ± 0.42 weeks). The Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) were administered at approximately 3 years of age adjusted (34 ± 2.7 months). Aperiodic activity, but not the rhythmic oscillatory activity, at multiple electrode sites was associated with subsequent increased autism risk on the BITSEA at three years of age. No associations were found between the PSD slope or absolute EEG power and cognitive development. Our findings highlight the need to examine potential markers of subsequent autism risk in high-risk populations other than infants at familial risk.

ObjectiveA robust literature has identified associations between prenatal maternal depression and adverse child social-emotional and cognitive outcomes. The majority of prior research is from high-income countries despite increased reporting of perinatal depression in low/middle-income countries (LMICs). Additionally, despite the comorbidity between depression and anxiety, few prior studies have examined their joint impact on child neurodevelopment. The objective of the current analysis was to examine associations between prenatal maternal depression and anxiety with child social-emotional and cognitive development in a cohort from the Western Cape Province of South Africa.DesignPrenatal maternal depression and anxiety were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale at 20–24 weeks’ gestation. Child neurobehaviour was assessed at age 3 using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III Screening Test (BSID-III ST). We used linear regression models to examine the independent and joint association between prenatal maternal depression, anxiety and child developmental outcomes.ResultsParticipants consisted of 600 maternal-infant dyads (274 females; gestational age at birth: 38.89 weeks±2.03). Children born to mothers with both prenatal depression and trait anxiety had higher social-emotional problems (mean difference: 4.66; 95% CI 3.43 to 5.90) compared with children born to mothers with no prenatal depression or trait anxiety, each condition alone, or compared with mothers with depression and state anxiety. Additionally, children born to mothers with prenatal maternal depression and trait anxiety had the greatest reduction in mean cognitive scores on the BSID-III ST (mean difference: −1.04; 95% CI −1.99 to –0.08).ConclusionsThe observed association between comorbid prenatal maternal depression and chronic anxiety with subsequent child social-emotional and cognitive development underscores the need for targeting mental health support among perinatal women in LMICs to improve long-term child neurobehavioural outcomes.

Background. Antenatal substance use is a significant public health concern in South Africa (SA). Information on smoking, drinking and drug use during pregnancy was collected prospectively for the Safe Passage Study of the PASS (Prenatal Alcohol in Sudden infant death syndrome and Stillbirth) Network.Objectives. Data from 4 926 pregnant women in a community near Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, were examined to determine whether associations between different substance use groups and postnatal infant outcomes at birth and 1 year were significant.Methods. Gestational age (GA) was determined by earliest ultrasound. Maternal data were collected at enrolment or first antenatal visit. Substance use data were obtained at up to four occasions. Birthweight data were derived from medical records, and birthweight z-scores (BWZs) were specifically calculated using INTERGROWTH-21st study data. Statistical analyses were done with Statistica version 13. Results. Women who used more substances enrolled later, were younger, and had smaller mid-upper arm circumferences (MUACs), less education and lower monthly income than women who used no substances (control group). Infants born to women who used more substances had lower GA at delivery, birthweight and BWZ than infants from the control group. At 1 year, infants born to women who used more substances had a lower weight, shorter length and smaller head circumference. Education was positively associated with all infant outcomes at birth and 1 year. MUAC was positively associated with infant BWZ, and weight and length at 1 year. Income was negatively associated with BWZ, but positively associated with all 1-year outcomes.Conclusion. Substance use during pregnancy affects infant outcomes at birth and 1 year of age. The addictive properties of substance use make cessation difficult, so prevention strategies should be implemented long before pregnancy. Higher maternal education, associated with better infant outcomes at birth and 1 year and acting as a countermeasure to substance use, is of paramount importance.