Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in Alabama: Effects of Age, Gender, Race, and Rural/Urban Status

Background/Purpose: According to the CDC, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of mortality in infants between one and twelve months of age in the US. Although the etiology of SIDS is unclear, recent literature has identified characteristics that potentially contribute to increased risk of SIDS including age (younger than six months), gender (male), race (Blacks), and rural/urban status (non-and small-metro counties). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the aforementioned variables and the incidence of SIDS in Alabama.

Methods: Data were collected by Alabama Child Death Review System from 2000-2006. This study identifies SIDS cases by ICD 10 code R95. Chi-Square analyses and a logistic regression model were used to examine the relationships of the variables (age, gender, ethnicity, rural/urban status) with SIDS. GIS provides spatial representation of SIDS cases in Alabama.

Results/Outcomes: Infants less than 6 months and those residing in the rural north and south regions had statistically higher rates of SIDS. No statistical difference based on ethnicity and gender was found. The logistic regression model only explained 0.04% of the variance in SIDS incidence.

Conclusions/Implications: Age differences were consistent with other studies; however the lower incidence of SIDS in the Black Belt appears to be inconsistent with published findings as the Black Belt is rural and has a higher Black population. Future studies should examine the racial differences within the geographical regions of Alabama and should address other environmental and behavioral factors influencing SIDS incidence.