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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Erin M. Johnson, MPH candidate¹, Nathalie Bartle, EdD¹, and Ilisa Stalberg, MSS, MLSP². (1) Drexel University School of Public Health, 1505 Race Street, Mail Box 660, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192, 443-742-7394, emjohnson0181@yahoo.com, (2) Maternity Care Coalition, 2000 Hamilton Street, Suite 205, Philadelphia, PA 19130

In 2002, an estimated 2,720 infants under 1 year of age died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation in a sleep environment. Cultural beliefs and family practices continue to fuel the argument over safe sleep practices. One such practice where there is much debate is co-sleeping and bed-sharing (the practice of an infant sleeping in an adult bed with other children and/or adults) that involves the risks of overlay or other causes of suffocation. Of the 297 SIDS deaths that occurred in Philadelphia, 1995-2002, 54.7% were sleeping with another person at the time of death. In response to concerns over safe sleeping for infants in Philadelphia, the Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) implemented Cribs for Kids, a safe sleep education and crib distribution program. A qualitative evaluation was designed to determine the effectiveness of this program, focusing particularly on the high risks of SIDS and the education of families about safe sleep practices. In-person interviews were conducted with former clients and key stakeholders of the program to determine: 1) if the cribs were being used properly; 2) if the program was reaching the intended population; 3) if safe sleeping guidelines were being followed; 4) if the level of program contact had an impact on the family using the crib and following safe sleeping practices; and, 4) if the strategies for delivering the safe sleep message were culturally appropriate. The interviews also captured information about perceptions of and improvements to the program. Evaluation results will be available in April 2006.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Understand the degree of necessity of a safe sleep education program.
• Identify strategies for educating the community about safe sleeping practices.
• Understand the importance of planning in program evaluation.
• Develop a systematic evaluation of a community based program.
• Describe policy implications associated with the evaluation results.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered