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Go the Distance
Exploring International Adoption
Part One
By Michele St. Martin
Health is a major concern for international adopters. While the health of adopted children varies from country to country, all internationally adopted children are at risk for nutritional deficiencies, parasitic infections and other conditions. For example, tuberculosis and hepatitis B are fairly common in some areas.
Developmental delays are to be expected of children who have been living in an institution. This sort of delay, sometimes referred to as "orphanage delay," is seldom permanent – once a child has adequate nutrition, loving care and stimulation, she often catches up to her new peers quickly.
Attachment disorders, which can make it difficult or even impossible for children to bond with adopted parents, are another concern, especially among older children who have spent much of their lives in institutional care.
One of the major concerns voiced from adopters whose children are from Eastern Europe is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effect (FAE). "FAS and FAE are a rising concern, as alcoholism is rising in Russia in particular," says Beth Waggenspack, an adoptive parent and expert on Eastern European adoption. She adds that FAS/FAE is not common in Bulgaria or Romania.
"With FAS/FAE, the outcomes really are unknown," says aggenspack. "That's why we tell folks to get one of the international doctors familiar with Eastern European referrals to review any medical documents to discuss the potential for alcohol-related issues. Many of our families are dealing with learning disabilities or hyperactivity, for instance, but in many cases, we don't know if this is because of [prenatal] alcohol use."
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