"Don't shake the baby": the effectiveness of a prevention program.
The suggestion has been made that a systematic approach to informing all parents of newborns about the dangers of shaking a baby is needed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an educational campaign about the dangers of shaking a baby could influence parental knowledge, and would be perceived as helpful by new parents. A total of 15,708 parents of newborns in one urban county received a "Don't Shake the Baby" packet over a one year period. Moms ranged in age from 14 to 44 years, and 90% were white. A response postcard in the educational packet was returned by 3,293 parents (21%). More than three-fourths of respondents said the information was helpful to them, and 49% indicated that subsequent to reading the materials, they were less likely to shake their babies. Ninety-one percent said they thought other parents of newborns should read the material.
Showers
J
J
Ohio Research Institute on Child Abuse Prevention, Division of the League Against Child Abuse, Westerville, OH 43081.
D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010174:Pamphlets; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*