{"id":{"repo_id":"western-cape","oai_identifier":"oai:uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za:10566/24814"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/western-cape/oai:uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za:10566/24814","repository":{"repo_id":"western-cape","name":"University of the Western Cape","base_url":"https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za:8443/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Utilizing facial scanning to screen for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in South Africa","abstract":"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) remains a significant yet underdiagnosed public health concern in South Africa, with disproportionately high prevalence among historically marginalised populations. Oral Health Professionals (OHPs), through their clinical focus on the craniofacial region and their position within communities, may be uniquely positioned to support early screening and referral. This study explored the potential role of OHPs in FASD screening using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted facial imaging tools within the South African primary healthcare. This multi-component research project comprised four elements: a scoping review, a diagnostic accuracy study, a questionnaire-based assessment of OHPs’ perceived roles in FASD screening, and a curriculum mapping study of Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Oral Hygiene programmes. Although the scoping review identified a potential AI-based tool for FASD screening, its diagnostic accuracy was insufficient in the South African sample. As a result, no existing AI-driven facial imaging tools are currently suitable for use in South Africa, largely due to the absence of locally representative datasets and the associated risk of algorithmic bias. OHPs demonstrated both the capability and willingness to participate in FASD screening, provided that adequate training and systemic support are in place. The curriculum review further revealed a marked lack of FASD and alcohol-misuse-related content in undergraduate programmes. In addition, broader ethical and contextual challenges-including those related to data governance, racial bias, systemic capacity constraints, and stigma- emerged as critical considerations for any future implementation efforts. Addressing FASD in South Africa requires approaches that are both ethical and equitable. This includes locally driven AI development, the establishment of coordinated national strategies for FASD prevention, and the reorientation of OHP education to emphasise public health, ethics, and advocacy. The findings reinforce calls for an inclusive, multisectoral response to FASD and highlight the urgent need for political commitment to translate evidence into practice.","abstract_html":"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) remains a significant yet underdiagnosed public health concern in South Africa, with disproportionately high prevalence among historically marginalised populations. Oral Health Professionals (OHPs), through their clinical focus on the craniofacial region and their position within communities, may be uniquely positioned to support early screening and referral. This study explored the potential role of OHPs in FASD screening using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted facial imaging tools within the South African primary healthcare. This multi-component research project comprised four elements: a scoping review, a diagnostic accuracy study, a questionnaire-based assessment of OHPs’ perceived roles in FASD screening, and a curriculum mapping study of Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Oral Hygiene programmes. Although the scoping review identified a potential AI-based tool for FASD screening, its diagnostic accuracy was insufficient in the South African sample. As a result, no existing AI-driven facial imaging tools are currently suitable for use in South Africa, largely due to the absence of locally representative datasets and the associated risk of algorithmic bias. OHPs demonstrated both the capability and willingness to participate in FASD screening, provided that adequate training and systemic support are in place. The curriculum review further revealed a marked lack of FASD and alcohol-misuse-related content in undergraduate programmes. In addition, broader ethical and contextual challenges-including those related to data governance, racial bias, systemic capacity constraints, and stigma- emerged as critical considerations for any future implementation efforts. Addressing FASD in South Africa requires approaches that are both ethical and equitable. This includes locally driven AI development, the establishment of coordinated national strategies for FASD prevention, and the reorientation of OHP education to emphasise public health, ethics, and advocacy. The findings reinforce calls for an inclusive, multisectoral response to FASD and highlight the urgent need for political commitment to translate evidence into practice.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Roomaney, Imaan"],"institution":"University of the Western Cape","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025","date_published":"2025","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:00:54Z","subjects":["Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)","Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)","Artificial intelligence (AI)","Oral Health Practitioner","Dysmorphology","Face2Gene"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/bitstreams/5b9b0337-b4e2-481a-8557-cd407afee8d6/download"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Roomaney, Imaan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of the Western Cape"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10566/24814"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)","Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)","Artificial intelligence (AI)","Oral Health Practitioner","Dysmorphology","Face2Gene"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/bitstreams/5b9b0337-b4e2-481a-8557-cd407afee8d6/download"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/bitstreams/1698c5ad-95eb-427e-8f47-c2b61dd5157b/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) remains a significant yet underdiagnosed public health concern in South Africa, with disproportionately high prevalence among historically marginalised populations. 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