Widening social inequalities in risk for sudden infant death syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
In 1994, the US Public Health Service launched the "Back to Sleep" campaign, promoting the supine sleep position to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Studies of SIDS in the United States have generally found socioeconomic and race disparities. Our objective was to see whether the "Back to Sleep" campaign, which involves an effective, easy, and free intervention, has reduced social class inequalities in SIDS.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based case-cohort study during 2 periods, 1989 to 1991 and 1996 to 1998, using the US Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Sets. Case group was infants who died of SIDS in infancy (N = 21 126); control group was a 10% random sample of infants who lived through the first year and all infants who died of other causes (N=2241218). Social class was measured by mother's education level.


RESULTS
There was no evidence that inequalities in SIDS were reduced after the Back to Sleep campaign. In fact, odds ratios for SIDS associated with lower social class increased between 1989-1991 and 1996-1998. The race disparity in SIDS increased after the Back to Sleep campaign.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of an inexpensive, easy, public health intervention has not reduced social inequalities in SIDS; in fact, the gap has widened. Although the risk of SIDS has been reduced for all social class groups, women who are more educated have experienced the greatest decline.
Pickett
Kate E
KE
Department of Health Sciences, Seebohm Rowntree Building, Area 3, University of York, Heslington, York, Y010 5DD, England. kp6@york.ac.uk
Luo
Ye
Y
Lauderdale
Diane S
DS
D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017533:Marital Status; D009035:Mothers; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology