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

Abstract #60992

Eugene R. Takahashi, PhD, MPH, Maternal and Child Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 499, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-657-1360, GTakahas@dhs.ca.gov and Ellen J. Stein, MD, MA, MPH, Epidemiology, Evaluation & Surveillance Section, Maternal & Child Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 499, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Background. Since 1992, national and state campaigns have encouraged putting babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of postneonatal death. In California, SIDS declined 48% between 1992 and 1998. This study assesses patterns of risky sleep positions for subpopulations in California.

Methods. Data were analyzed from the 1999 California Maternal and Infant Health Assessment survey, a self-administered mailed survey of a representative sample of women in California who recently had a live birth. Weighted bivariate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using SUDAAN; subsequent analyses will include multivariate logistic regression using three years of MIHA data.

Results. Overall, 60 percent of mothers reported their babies slept on their backs. Groups that were more likely to report their infants slept prone or on their side were: African-American (OR 2.2, 1.7-2.8) and Hispanic (OR 1.5, 1.3-1.8) mothers compared to white mothers; mothers who smoked tobacco (OR 1.3, 1.03-1.6) compared to non-smoking mothers; and mothers who did not complete high school (OR 1.8, 1.5-2.2) or graduated from high school (OR 1.5, 1.3-1.8) compared to mothers with more education. Less risky sleep positions were reported by mothers who received first trimester prenatal care (OR 0.7, 0.6-0.9) or who ever breastfed their babies (OR 0.8, 0.6-0.9).

Conclusion. Patterns of risky infant sleep positions vary by subgroups and suggest further risk reduction strategies.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Identify subgroups that could be targeted for sleep position education.
• 2.Evaluate the correspondence of sleep position and SIDS risk in subgroups.

Keywords: SIDS, Risk Taking Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.