title: SIDS-related knowledge and infant care practices among Maori mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maori have high SIDS rates and relevant information is needed to craft appropriate prevention strategies. The aim of the study was to determine what Maori mothers know about SIDS prevention, and to determine their SIDS-related child care practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maori mothers who gave birth in the Counties Manukau District Health Board area were surveyed about their SIDS related knowledge, and infant care practices and their reasons for using and their concerns about these practices. Results were compared with a similar 2005 survey of a largely European sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of Maori mothers about SIDS prevention was much lower than for European mothers. More Maori infants slept prone and Maori mothers stopped breastfeeding significantly earlier. Although co-sleeping rates were similar, bedsharing increased to 65% for some part of the night. In addition, more than half of the Maori mothers had smoked in pregnancy and 21% of them were sharing a bed with their infant. Potentially unsafe soft objects such as rolled blankets or pillows were used by a third of mothers to help maintain the sleep position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maori mothers have a poorer knowledge of SIDS prevention practices. The high rate of maternal smoking, the early cessation of breastfeeding, and co-sleeping where there was smoking in pregnancy were also areas of concern. Appropriate health promotion measures need to be developed for the high-risk Maori community.
authors.affiliation: Hauora Heretaunga, Hastings, New Zealand. dtipene@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tipene-Leach
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: Angeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tangiora
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D016684:Prone Position; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*