|
|
|
OCTOBER 2006 IS SIDS (SUDDEN
INFANT DEATH SYNDROME) AWARENESS MONTH |
|
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age that
cannot be explained by information collected during a thorough
investigation*.1 In 2003, the rate
of SIDS for all races was 52.9 per 100,000 live births.2
SIDS is the third leading cause of infant mortality in the United
States1 (accounting for 7.7% of all
infant deaths)2 and the leading cause of
death among infants 28–364 days.1 |
|
The cause of SIDS is currently unknown.3
Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between two and four months
of age.4 |
|
Top
of Page |
|
EXAMPLES
OF IMPORTANT DISPARITIES |
|
Although the overall rate of SIDS in the United States has declined by
more than 50% since 1990, rates have declined less among
non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)
infants.1 |
|
Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS) Incidence
by Race and Hispanic Origin of the mother: U.S., 2003
(Rates per 100,000 live births) |
|
All Populations |
52.9 |
|
Non-Hispanic white |
50.5 |
|
Non-Hispanic black |
108.8 |
|
American Indian / Alaska
Native (AI/AN) |
124.0 |
|
Asian American or Pacific
Islander (AAPI) |
27.7 |
|
Total Hispanic / Latino |
25.6 |
|
Total Hispanic / Latino |
25.6 |
|
Mexican |
24.8 |
|
Puerto Rican |
53.1 |
|
Central and South American |
19.9 |
|
Source: National Vi25.6tal Statistics Report 54(16) May 3,
2006
|
|
|
|
IN 2003 |
|
|
 |
SIDS rates were highest for AI/AN (124.0 per 100,000 live births)
and non-Hispanic black mothers (108.8) – 2.5 and 2.2 times those for
non-Hispanic white mothers (50.5), respectively. SIDS rates for
AI/AN and non-Hispanic black mothers were 2.3 and 2.1 times higher
than for all mothers (52.9), respectively.2
|
|
|
|
Among Hispanics/Latinos, the Puerto Rican SIDS rate (53.1 per 1,000)
was 2.7 times higher than for Central and South Americans (19.9) and
2.1 times higher than for Mexicans (24.8).2
|
|
|
|
 |
The SIDS rate for Mexican mothers was 51% lower, and for Central and
South American mothers, 61% lower than the rate for non-Hispanic
white mothers.2
|
|
|
|
SIDS rates for Asian or Pacific Islander mothers (27.7) were almost
one-half those for non-Hispanic white mothers (50.5).2
Among Asian/Pacific Islanders, the infant mortality rate was 2.8
times greater for mothers under 20 years old (10.8) than for
mothers, ages 25-29 years old (3.9).5
|
|
|
|
|
|
IN 2001 |
|
|
|
In 2001, boys were about 1.3 to 1.4 times more likely to die from
SIDS than girls in all race and ethnic groups (All races males: 64.0
per 100,000, females: 46.6; non-Hispanic white males: 59.3 females:
41.1; black males: 137.1 females: 108.3).6 |
|
Top
of Page |
|
RISK FACTORS FOR SIDS |
|
Several factors have been identified that increase an infant’s risk
for SIDS. |
|
|
1. |
Tummy (prone) or side sleeping
Infants who are put to sleep on their tummy or side are more
likely to die from SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs. |
|
|
2. |
Soft sleep surfaces
Sleeping on a waterbed, couch, sofa, or pillows, or sleeping with
stuffed toys has been associated with an increased risk for SIDS. |
|
|
3. |
Loose bedding
Sleeping with pillows or loose bedding such as comforters, quilts,
and blankets increases an infants risk for SIDS. |
|
|
4. |
Overheating
Infants who overheat because they are overdressed, have too many
blankets on, or are in a room that is too hot are at a higher risk
of SIDS. |
|
|
5. |
Smoking
Infants born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at
increased of SIDS. Also, infants exposed to smoke at home or at
daycare are more likely to die from SIDS. |
|
|
6. |
Bed sharing
Sharing a bed with anyone other than the parents or caregivers and
with people who smoke or are under the influence of alcohol or
drugs, increases an infant’s risk for SIDS. The safest place for an
infant to sleep is in their own crib or other separate safe sleep
surface next to the parent or caregiver’s bed.
|
|
|
7. |
Preterm and low birth weight infants
Infants born premature or low birth weight are more likely to die
from SIDS.3 |
|
Top
of Page |
|
HOW CAN I REDUCE THE SIDS RISK? |
|
Health care providers don't know exactly what causes SIDS, but they
do know certain things can help reduce the risk of SIDS: |
|
|
1. |
Always place babies on their backs to sleep
Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die of SIDS
than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. Placing your baby
on his or her back to sleep is the number one way to reduce the risk
of SIDS. |
|
|
2. |
Use the back sleep position every time
Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on
their stomachs, like for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS. So
it is important for babies to sleep on their backs every time, for
naps and at night. |
|
|
3. |
Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as a
safety-approved* crib mattress covered with a
fitted sheet
Never place a baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin, or other
soft surface. |
|
|
4. |
Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s
sleep area
Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or pillow-like
bumpers in your baby’s sleep area. Keep all items away from the
baby’s face. |
|
|
5. |
Avoid letting your baby overheat during sleep
Dress your baby in light sleep clothing and keep the room as a
temperature that is comfortable for an adult. |
|
|
6. |
Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing your baby
down to sleep
but don’t force the baby to take it. (If you’re breastfeeding,
wait until your child is 1 month old, or is used to breastfeeding
before using a pacifier.) |
|
|
* |
For more information on crib safety, visit
http://www.cpsc.gov. |
|
Top
of Page |
|
CDC's SIDS ACTIVITIES |
|
CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion (NCCDPHP), Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) engages in the following
activities to reduce SIDS: |
|
|
|
Revising the 1996 Guidelines for the Death Scene Investigation of Sudden,
Unexplained Infant Deaths (SUID) and the Investigation Reporting
Form (SUIDRF)
Accurate, consistent cause-of-death data is needed to monitor
national trends in infant deaths, evaluate prevention programs, and
conduct research that will ultimately lead to a reduction in these
deaths. In order to achieve this aim, CDC is working to improve the
quality of data collected at infant death scene investigations and
of data recorded on death certificates. |
|
|
|
Developing Infant death scene investigation training materials
Of equal importance to revising the SUIDIRF is the need for training
investigators and death certifiers in how to consistently collect
data at the death scene and translate the investigation findings
into a cause-of-death on the death certificate. |
|
|
|
SIDS Research
CDC is investigating reasons for the disparities in SIDS rates
between minorities and white infants. Additionally, CDC is examining
the trends in SIDS and other SUID to determine the extent to which
changes in reporting cause-of-death explain the continued decline in
SIDS rates.7 |
|
Top
of Page |
