Prevalence of Self-Reported Shaking and Smothering and Their Associations with Co-Sleeping among 4-Month-Old Infants in Japan

Abstract

Few studies have investigated the prevalence of shaking and smothering and whether they are associated with co-sleeping. In Japan, co-sleeping is common during infancy and early childhood. This study investigates the prevalence of shaking and smothering and their associations with co-sleeping among 4-month-old infants in Japan. A questionnaire was administered to mothers who participated in a 4-month health checkup program in Kamagaya City in Japan (n = 1307; valid response rate, 82%). The questionnaire investigated the frequency of self-reported shaking and smothering during the past one month, co-sleeping status, and living arrangements with grandparents, in addition to traditional risk factors such as stress due to crying. Associations between co-sleeping and self-reported shaking or smothering were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of self-reported shaking and smothering at least one time during the past one month was 3.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.4%–4.3%) and 2.4% (95% CI, 1.5%–3.2%), respectively. Co-sleeping was marginally associated with the amount of crying and not associated with stress due to crying. Further, co-sleeping was not associated with either self-reported shaking or smothering, although stress due to crying showed strong association with shaking and smothering. Co-sleeping was not a risk factor for shaking and smothering.

Synergistic Effects of Unintended Pregnancy and Young Motherhood on Shaking and Smothering of Infants among Caregivers in Nagoya City, Japan

“…Furthermore, the prevalence of self-reported shaking and smothering at least once in the previous month among Japanese parents of 3- and 4-month infants is 2.4–3.9 and 2.4–2.7%, respectively ( 10 – 12 ). This rate is similar to those reported for other developed countries, such as the Netherlands and the United States ( 10 , 11 ). Previous studies have identified risk factors of shaking and smothering to develop effective prevention strategies for deaths due to child abuse.…”

“…Unlike other countries, administrative data, court cases, and databases on shaking and smothering are not available in Japan. Although the extent of overlap between self-reported cases and AHT/SBS hospital data is unknown, previous studies have used self-administered questionnaires to assess the prevalence of shaking and smothering ( 10 , 11 , 37 , 38 ). Second, previous occurrence of shaking and smothering toward other children of the caregivers was not examined in our study.…”

Neighborhood social capital and infant physical abuse: a population-based study in Japan

“…Details of this study have been published elsewhere [ 42 ]. In brief, we targeted all women (n = 1594) who were invited to participate in a 4-month health checkup program between June 2010 and January 2012 in Kamagaya City in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.…”

Effectiveness of public health practices against shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma in Japan

“…2,3 Although the prevalence rate of admitted SBS/AHT cases in Japan is unknown, it is estimated to be similar to rates in Western countries because the prevalence of shaking is similar: 2.6% for children <2 years old in North Carolina, USA, 4 3.4% for infants aged six months in the Netherlands, 5 and 3.4% for infants aged four months in Japan. 6 The mortality rate ranges from 10% to 30%, 7e11 which is higher than that for Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis (approximately 5%). 12 Significant neurological impairments are observed in at least 50% of SBS/AHT survivors.…”