RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Question 1

What are the five risk factors?

Answer 1

1. Poor Maternal Diet
2. Smoking
3. Drug and Alcohol Use
4. Environmental toxins
5. Age

Question 2

What does a poor maternal diet include?

Answer 2

A deficiency in nutrients can negatively impact prenatal development.

Folate: neural tube defects can cause spina bifada, results in paralysis

Iron: iron deficiency, anemia. Results in premature and low birth weight < 2.5kg

Zinc: low birth weight, small for gestational age (bottom 10% weight)

Iodine: fetal hypothyroidism, can’t produce thyroid hormones, stunted growth

Question 3

What foods should you avoid when you are pregnant?

Answer 3

Soft cheese, undercooked meat, raw seafood, most prone to contamination

Question 4

What does an undernourished pregnant women have?

Answer 4

Undernourished women will have an underdeveloped foetus and risk of low birthweight when born.

Question 5

Why is smoking a risk factor?

Answer 5

Impacts fetal growth, increased risk of low-birth-weight babies

Impacts brain development and function of fetus

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Passive smoking also has risks

Chemicals from cigarettes reduce oxygen flow to placenta and exposes foetus to toxins

Question 6

Why is drugs and alcohol use a risk factor?

Answer 6

When alcohol is consumed it crosses the placenta and enters the baby’s bloodstream and restricts blood supply

Low birth weight

Premature birth

Increased risk of Fetal

Alcohol syndrome

Learning and behavioural problems

Question 7

What is included when you say environmental toxins?

Answer 7

Pesticides
Lead
Radiation

Question 8

Alcohol use during pregnancy lead to….

Answer 8

Can cause infertility (limit alcohol consumption even when trying to conceive)

Alcohol crosses placenta to baby’s blood

Restricts blood supply to foetus

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)