title: Parents' behavior in response to infant crying: abusive head trauma education.
abstract: Abusive head trauma (AHT) is still too common, and probably underestimated. It is the leading cause of death from child abuse. Crying is thought to contribute to the act of shaking. Objectives of this study were to (a) assess parents' knowledge about infant crying, their ability to manage crying, and their knowledge about AHT; and (b) assess the feasibility and the impact of a simple educational intervention about crying and AHT with parents shortly after their child's birth. A short questionnaire was completed orally by the parents of 190 consecutive newborns in a maternity hospital at day 2 of life. Then, during the routine examination of the child, the pediatrician gave parents a short talk about infant crying and AHT, and a pamphlet. Finally, parents were contacted by phone at 6 weeks for the post-intervention questionnaire assessing their knowledge about crying and AHT. Among 202 consecutive births, parents of 190 children were included (266 parents; 70% mothers) over a 1-month period and answered the pre-intervention questionnaire. The intervention was feasible and easy to provide. Twenty-seven percent of mothers and 36% of fathers had never heard of AHT. At 6 weeks, 183 parents (68% of the sample; 80% mothers) answered the post-intervention questionnaire. Parents' knowledge improved significantly post-intervention. Parents found the intervention acceptable and useful. Health care professionals such as pediatricians or nurses could easily provide this brief talk to all parents during systematic newborn examination.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Neurological Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France; Paediatric Neurology Department, Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simonnet
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Neurological Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laurent-Vannier
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations U1018 Inserm, Paul Brousse Hospitals, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Wenlun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Neurological Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hully
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Neurological Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France.
authors.forename: Sakil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valimahomed
authors.affiliation: Maternity Department, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France.
authors.forename: Malek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourennane
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Neurological Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France; Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, LIB, F-7013, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chevignard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003448:Crying; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D038642:Shaken Baby Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abusive head trauma; Crying; Non-accidental head injury; Primary prevention; Shaken baby syndrome