Preventing Infant Deaths Through Safe Sleep Education

Abstract

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the death of an infant less than 1 year of age and can be reported as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unknown cause, or accidental strangulation and suffocation. These reports are determined upon completion of a thorough investigation. SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants in the United States. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB) Coalition of Hawai‘i is a local nonprofit that provides mothers with proper education and prenatal programs. This project focuses primarily on the Hawaii Cribs for Kids Program facilitated by HMHB. The purpose of this study was to identify the demographics of mothers who attend the Cribs for Kids classes in Hawaii and identify common misconceptions about safe sleep practices. By having this information readily available, HMHB can improve class material to be more culturally appropriate and to teach recommendations and prioritize mothers at high risk when doing outreach. Results indicated that mothers learned most about pacifier use for safe sleep and how bumper pads and wedges or positioners can be hazardous when placed in an infant’s sleep environment.