Sleep Practices and Environment and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Turkey

Abstract

Public health interventions should alert women to the increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome associated with identifiable risk factors, and specific intervention campaigns for safe sleeping can be developed for Turkish families.

Mothers’ Preferences for Safe Sleep in Newborns

“…Ayrıca bebeklerin yataklarında yastık kullanılmaması önerilmektedir (24). Annelerin çoğunluğu literatürde olduğu gibi bizim çalışmamızda da bebeklerini uyuturken yastık kullanmaktadır (13,14,22). Ülkemizde sağlık çalışanlarına yapılan bir araştırmada riskli olmasına rağmen bebekler uyurken yastık kullanılabileceğini söyleyen pediatri hemşirelerin oranı %32, çocuk doktorlarının ise %23,8 olarak belirtilmiştir (25).…”

Implementation of Safe Sleep Practices by Mothers with 0-1 Year-Old Infants

“…In the present study, it was found that 22.5% of the mothers covered their infants' heads or face while sleeping. In our country, the practice of covering the face of the infant, which is considered a traditional practice to protect babies from surrounding hazards, varies between 21.9% and 49.3% in different studies (12,13,15,18). In the present study, it was determined that 83.8% of the rooms where infants slept were heated by natural gas.…”

“…In the present study, it was determined that 83.8% of the rooms where infants slept were heated by natural gas. Efe et al (15) found that 74.9% of the infants resided in stove-heated houses. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that for a safe sleeping environment, the room temperature not be excessively increased and that the room be ventilated (1).…”

“…The introductory information form comprised of 12 questions about the mother (age, education level, working status, family type, and the number of children) and the infant (sex, birth weight, and week of birth). Safe sleep information form comprised of 15 "Yes/No" questions on the knowledge and practices related to safe sleep, that were prepared by the researcher under the relevant literature (1,(12)(13)(14)(15)18,19). Before administering the questionnaires, the purpose of the study was explained by the researcher and the forms were completed in 8-…”

“…A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report described that one-fifth of mothers (22%) did not lay their infant in the supine position, more than half (61%) shared the bed with their infant, and approximately two-fifths (39%) used soft beds (11). Studies conducted in Turkey have also revealed risky practices related to the sleep environment, such as laying the infant in the lateral position, using soft beds, using pillows, not using pacifiers, sharing beds, and smoking at home (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”