The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59486

Ellen Hutchins, ScD, MSW, Chief, Perinatal and Women's Health Branch, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Parklawn Bldg Rm 10C-16, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301.443.9534, ehutchins@hrsa.gov and Kathleen Buckley, MSN, CNM, Director, National Fetal and Infant Mortalty Review Program, 409 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C., DC 20024.

This poster will describe the FIMR process and demonstrate ways that communities are using it to successfully identify and implement SIDS risk reduction activities. Generally, FIMR is one of the most useful tools in helping communities understand and intervene to correct factors that may contribute to disparities in infant health outcomes. Specifically, according to Johns Hopkins University’s national evaluation of FIMR, 86% of all FIMR programs studied have implemented some type of new SIDS risk reduction activities. Through review of cases and interviews with families whose infants have died, FIMR teams have found that some of the current SIDS messages: 1) may not be culturally appropriate 2) may not be reaching the communities most at risk and/or 3) may not be delivered by a messenger that the community trusts. Indeed, new research published this year documents that what FIMR programs know from their reviews - SIDS risk reduction activities are not reaching Black and Hispanic families and families of low-income and less than a college education. Local SIDS risk reduction activities from FIMR reviews aim to be culturally sensitive, community specific and family-oriented. FIMR empowers the community to develop creative, culturally relevant SIDS risk reduction programs and messages that resonate with communities most at risk for SIDS deaths.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to do the following:
• Describe the FIMR process
• List components of the FIMR process that helps communities understand implement community specific SIDS activities to reduce disparities
• Discuss at least four different actions that communities have developed through FIMR to implement culturally appropriate SIDS risk reduction activities.

Keywords: Infant Mortality, SIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 320.0 kb)