Prenatal alcohol exposure and characteristics of temperament in infancy and early childhood

Abstract

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with cognitive and neurobehavioural dysfunction, but characteristics of temperament have not been widely documented in exposed children. The objectives of the study were firstly to assess prenatal alcohol exposure in relation to infant and childhood temperament. The second objective was to assess the influence of socio-demographic variables on infant and childhood temperament and the third was to relate aspects of temperament measured in infancy to those at 5 years.