INTEC presents documentary on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in light of the high prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
The short documentary film “Born in Degrees”, produced and directed by university researchers together with the Ministry of Public Health, presents a testimonial account of the impact of alcohol and debunks the myth that “a little drink doesn’t do anything”
SANTO DOMINGO – José (a fictitious name), 11 years old, still cannot read and can barely write. Despite regularly attending school and tutoring sessions, his lack of concentration prevents him from making the most of his time, leading him to sleep instead of learning. His aunt, Carmen María, who has raised him since birth, took him to the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Children's Hospital for an evaluation, and the finding was devastating: he suffers from a cognitive developmental delay due to his mother's alcohol consumption during her pregnancy. He doesn't even know her.
Her story is told in the short film titled Born in Degrees of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), which, through testimonies such as that of José and the clinical analysis of the licensed professionals Pedro Polanco and Melissa Fiallo, exposes the irreversible consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
According to statistics, there are 14.6 cases of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome per 10,000 births in the country. In this regard, Dalul Ordehi, dean of the Social Sciences and Humanities Department at INTEC, outlined the risks of this practice and warned about research indicating that 52% of Dominican women consume alcohol during pregnancy.
She pointed out that the short film, the result of a joint effort between the Film and Audiovisual Communication and Psychology programs at INTEC, dismantles cultural myths, such as the belief that "a little drink doesn't do anything" during pregnancy.
The film project was inspired by the academic research of Dr. María Eugenia Portela and had the collaboration of the Ministry of Public Health and the private sector to make this social reality visible.
Hospital impact and prevention
Statistics from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) place the Dominican Republic third in the Americas for the prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. National records indicate that 1,986 adolescents, aged between twelve and eighteen, experienced pregnancy and consumed alcohol during 2025.
The developmental consequences of this substance are directly reflected in medical centers. Between 2019 and 2021, the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Children's Hospital recorded 100 cases of children with conditions related to this syndrome spectrum.
For its part, during the presentation prior to the short film, it was stated that the Los Mina Maternity Hospital reported eighty-six pregnant women with this consumption habit during 2026. Among the main consequences of suffering from the syndrome is that it causes the life expectancy of people born with the condition to be reduced by half, averaging thirty-four years of age.
However, according to data presented by Professor Dalul Ordehi, health programs show effective results after medical intervention. For example, at the Mata Hambre Municipal Hospital in Santo Domingo, records of related illnesses dropped from fifty to eight cases after the implementation of institutional awareness campaigns.
The presentation of the film concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Elías Tejada, representative of the Department of Mental Health of the Ministry of Public Health.
The meeting included Dr. Luz María Romero, a psychiatrist at Robert Reid Cabral Hospital, and Pedro Polanco, a neuropsychologist at the same medical center. Researcher María Eugenia Portela and Dr. Dalul Ordehi also participated in the discussion. Additionally, Dr. Alejandro Uribe, director of the Department of Mental Health at the Ministry of Public Health, was present.
About Being Born in Degrees
This documentary, directed by Professor Rafael Lacau and graduate Ángel Guerrero, emerged as a graduation project for the Bachelor's Degree in Film and Communication at INTEC, and exposes a public health problem, such as alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
About the Film Studies program at INTEC
The Bachelor's Degree in Film and Audiovisual Communication at the academy trains professionals in directing, producing, screenwriting, and post-production. The program integrates industry techniques with field research. Students develop projects that document the country's dynamics, contributing to content creation and promoting the use of audiovisual material as a tool for social record-keeping.