title: Knowledge, opinions, and practices of infant sleep position among parents.
abstract: This study's objective was to assess the knowledge, opinions, and practices of infants' sleep positions and their association with demographics. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to survey a convenience sample of military beneficiary parents being seen at a military treatment facility in the United States. A 19-item investigator-designed questionnaire was adapted using the "Safe Sleep Survey" developed by Indiana Perinatal Network. A sample of 161 parents responded. Forty percent were fully aware of the safe sleep facts for infants; 85% believed supine position was the safest; and 69% of those who believed supine position to be the safest also practiced their belief. Major reasons for nonsupine sleeping positions were for infant preference, comfort, and fear of choking; whereas supine position was for safety reasons. Parents' opinions of safe position and their practices (p < 0.001) were significantly associated, whereas knowledge on infant safe sleep facts (p = 0.611) was not. The results indicate that there is still a need for education. However, merely providing information to increase knowledge alone is not enough to change behavior, as attitude was an important factor for the behavior. Theory-based intervention associated with change in behavior will have an impact on parents' attitudes.
authors.affiliation: USNH Yokosuka, PSC 475 Box 1895, FPO, AP 96350, USA.
authors.forename: Min S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chung-Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult