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Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death
Initiative (SUIDI): Overview |
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In 2004, about 4,600 U.S. infants
died suddenly of no immediately obvious cause. Nearly half
of these sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUID) were
attributed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is
the 3rd leading cause of infant death in the United States
and the 1st leading cause of death among infants aged 1–12
months. |
If you or someone you know has
experienced the loss of a baby, whether during pregnancy or
after birth, please see this
Web page from First Candle/SIDS Alliance.* |
The SIDS rate has been declining significantly since the
early 1990s. However, CDC research has found that the decline in
SIDS since 1999 can be explained by increasing SUID rates (e.g.,
deaths attributed to overlaying, suffocation, and wedging). This
change in reporting or classification of SUID can be explained
by changes in how investigations are conducted and how
diagnoses of SUID are made. For example, more deaths are
attributed to accidental suffocation that to SIDS.
Inaccurate Reporting
Many SUID cases are not investigated, and when they are,
cause-of-death data are not collected and reported consistently.
Inaccurate classification of cause and manner of death hampers
prevention efforts and researchers are unable to adequately
monitor national trends, identify risk factors, or evaluate
intervention programs. We need valid and reliable data to
support research and prevention efforts if we want to reduce
these infant deaths.
SUIDI
In 2003, CDC began leading the effort to revise the 1996 SUID
Reporting Form and Guidelines for the scene investigation, as well as actively educating and
disseminating training materials on infant death scene
investigations to improve inaccurate classification of SUID in
the United States. In 2004, CDC's Division of Reproductive Health
(DRH) and its partners implemented additional activities aimed at
improving the accuracy and consistency of the reporting and
classification of SUID deaths. These activities included the
development of a new standard investigation reporting form,
training curriculum materials for conducting a thorough SUID
death scene investigation, a planned effort to disseminate and
promote the use of these SUID investigations tools and
materials, and the development of a SUID case registry.
SUIDI Goals
The goals of the SUIDI are to develop tools and protocols to
- Standardize and improve data collected at infant death
scenes.
- Promote consistent diagnosis and reporting of cause and
manner of death for SUID cases.
- Prevent SUIDs by using improved data to monitor trends
and identify those at risk.
In March 2006, a revised reporting form known as the Sudden,
Unexplained Infant Death Initiative Reporting Form (SUIDI
Reporting Form) was released. This form is because it
- Contains 25 questions that medical examiners/coroners should
ask before autopsy.
- Guides the investigator through SUID investigation steps.
- Allows the investigator to document information easily
and consistently.
- Produces information that helps the death certifier accurately classify SIDS and other SUIDs.
- Yields information that researchers can use to recognize
new risk factors for infant death.
SUIDI Training Academies
As a means of disseminating SUIDI
training curriculum and
materials, CDC began conducting train-the-trainer academies in
five U.S. regions in 2006. These regional, multidisciplinary
academies provided training for every state, as well as American
Indian/Alaska Native teams. The academies produced more than 250 trainers,
including of medical examiners, coroners,
law enforcement officers, child advocates, college faculty
members, and medicolegal death scene investigators. Individuals
participating in these academies are expected to conduct
additional trainings at conferences, meetings, and
courses in their respective states.
Topics covered at the training academy include how to
- Complete the SUIDI Reporting Form.
- Interviewing families.
- Conduct death scene reenactments or recreations
(e.g., how was
the infant discovered, and what was the sleeping
environment.)
- Use Web-based electronic reporting system
to allow rapid communication from the death scene
investigator to the forensic pathologist.
SUID Case Registry
In 2006, CDC began pilot testing a SUID case registry to collect information
about the circumstances surrounding infant deaths. Information about the sleep environment and the
conduct and quality of the death scene investigation is
important.
Data from this registry will allow CDC and its
partners to quantify the extent of reporting problems on death
certificates and thus to better monitor trends in SUID cases and identify risk factors.
SUIDI Impact
To date, the SUIDI Reporting Form and training curriculum have
been endorsed by several national organizations representing law
enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners. Nearly 10,000
individuals have been trained, and many jurisdictions have
reported that they are using the new SUIDI
Reporting Form.
* |
Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
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Page last reviewed:
6/10/08
Page last modified: 6/10/08
Content source: Division
of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion |
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