title: A retrospective study on infant bed-sharing in a clinical practice population.
abstract: In 2005 the American Academy of Pediatrics published new recommendations on infant sleep environment which advised against infants bed-sharing. A retrospective study was done to determine the prevalence of infant bed-sharing and its associations in a clinical practice. Demographic data were collected from 2,405 infants from a large family practice residency program, which included OB care, in Missouri between March 2002 and February 2008. Data were extracted from electronic medical records at the first four well-child visits: 1 month, 2-3 months, 4-5 months, and 6-8 months of age. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software package, version 12.0 and 15.0 (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, Ill). At the first, second, third, and fourth well-child visit 19, 18, 12, and 11% of infants bed-shared with an adult. Bed-sharing was associated with an infant missing one or more well-child visits (first and third visits only), breastfeeding (first and second well-child visits only), and low SES. Stratified analysis by residence showed that over the 6-year study the decrease in the rate of bed-sharing, in the urban and non-urban areas, was statistically significant (P = 0.005, 0.04, respectively). Infants born 2006-2007 had a decreased rate of bed-sharing compared to infants born 2002-2005 (0.22, 0.30, respectively, P = 0.00). In light of the high rate of bed-sharing recorded at the first well-child visit, the researchers recommend an increased emphasis on safe sleeping education during the third trimester of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Southwest Missouri Forensics, Landmark Building, 309N. Jefferson Avenue, Suite #222-C, Springfield, MO 65806, USA. patricia.j.norton@gmail.com
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Karrisa W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Grellner
mesh_terms: D001513:Beds; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008485:Medical Audit; D008923:Missouri; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012890:Sleep