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Rethinking Local Economic Development for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Renosterberg Local Municipality, South Africa

Author

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  • Bianca Jordan

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

  • Naiefa Rashied

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

  • Marius Venter

    (Centre for Local Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

Abstract

Two towns in Renosterberg Local Municipality (RLM) in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, Petrusville and Philipstown, have high Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) prevalence rates. FASD is linked to poverty and imposes high national economic costs. Thus, it is critical to understand the local economic development (LED) strategies used to mitigate the high prevalence of FASD. Moreover, there is sparse literature examining adult communities where FASD children reside. Understanding these adult communities is important because FASD cannot exist without adult gestational exposure to alcohol consumption. Using a mixed-method approach, this study uses a six-phase analytic approach to investigate the drinking culture and drinking motives in RLM, applied to two cross-sectional in-depth community needs assessments, five in-depth interviews, and three focus groups. This study also evaluates how the RLM targets FASD, as well as binge and risky drinking, in its municipal economic strategy by analysing its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) with respect to an eight-stage policy development process. The results indicate that 57% of respondents expressed concern regarding the unhealthy drinking culture in RLM, 40% felt that the residents of RLM drank in response to unemployment-related hopelessness, and 52% attributed the drinking culture to a lack of hobbies and recreational opportunities. The results of an analysis of the RLM IDP through the lens of Ryder’s eight-stage policy development process suggest that the decisive policy development process is not open to the public and that, furthermore, FASD is neglected. A dedicated alcohol consumption census-style study is recommended to broadly capture alcohol consumption in RLM, allowing researchers to identify the exact alcohol consumption patterns and priority areas for the IDP and public health policy. RLM should directly publicise its policy development process so that its IDP is inclusively formulated to address FASD, risky drinking, binge drinking, and gestational alcohol consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Bianca Jordan & Naiefa Rashied & Marius Venter, 2023. "Rethinking Local Economic Development for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Renosterberg Local Municipality, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4492-:d:1086482
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Isabel Corrales-Gutierrez & Ramon Mendoza & Diego Gomez-Baya & Fatima Leon-Larios, 2020. "Understanding the Relationship between Predictors of Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy: Towards Effective Prevention of FASD," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Melissa Lubbe & Corné Van Walbeek & Nicole Vellios, 2017. "The Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Its Impact on a Child’s Classroom Performance: A Case Study of a Rural South African School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-10, August.
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