SIDS prevention: 3000 lives saved but we can do better

Edwin A Mitchell; Peter S Blair

SIDS prevention: 3000 lives saved but we can do better

N Z Med J. 2012 Aug 10;125(1359):50-7.

Authors

Edwin A Mitchell¹, Peter S Blair

Affiliation

¹ Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. e.mitchell@auckland.ac.nz

PMID: 22932514

Abstract

Mortality from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has decreased substantially from the late 1980s. This has been attributed to the change in infant sleep position initially from prone (front) to side and then to predominantly supine (back). We calculate that this has saved over 3000 lives. However, we argue that we could save more infant lives, if more focus was given to the risks observed from parents sleeping in the same bed as their babies.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Beds
Breast Feeding
Health Education
Health Promotion*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
New Zealand / epidemiology
Risk Factors
Sleep
Smoking / adverse effects
Smoking Prevention
Sudden Infant Death / epidemiology*
Sudden Infant Death / prevention & control*
Supine Position