Infant care practices associated with sudden infant death syndrome: findings from the Pacific Islands Families study.
OBJECTIVE
To report infant care practice prevalence for known modifiable sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) risk factors among a generally disadvantaged yet low-SIDS rate population of mothers with Pacific infants.


METHODS
The Pacific Islands Families study follows a cohort of Pacific infants born at a large tertiary hospital in South Auckland, between 15 March and 17 December 2000. Maternal self-report of infant care practices was undertaken at interview 6 weeks post-partum.


RESULTS
Overall, 1376 mothers self-reported upon their care practices for infants with median age of 7 weeks. Current maternal smoking was reported by 29%. Of infants: 50% were fully breastfed; 1% were placed prone to sleep; 50% usually bed-shared with their mother and 12% usually bed-shared with a mother who smoked; and 94% usually and 1% occasionally slept in the same room as their mother. Except for room sharing (P = 0.09), there were significant differences in these practices between the three major Pacific Island ethnic subgroups (all P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Adoption of bed-sharing and room-sharing practices appears to be saving Pacific infants' lives, even though the New Zealand Cot Death Association has discouraged bed-sharing and not actively promoted room sharing. Mothers need to receive adequate information antenatally about the risks and benefits of room-sharing, bed-sharing and safe-sleeping practices and environments should they decide or have no option but to bed-share.
Schluter
Philip J
PJ
Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand. philip.schluter@aut.ac.nz
Paterson
Janis
J
Percival
Teuila
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*