Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Victoria: A Retrospective Case Series Study

Bugeja, Lyndal; Dwyer, Jeremy; McIntyre, Sara-Jane; Young, Jeanine; Stephan, Karen; McClure, Roderick John

doi:10.1007/s10995-015-1888-6

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…For example, a study in the US showed that the unintentional suffocation deaths of infants aged 0–3 months accounted for nearly 60% of the cases [ 21 ]. In Australia, infants under 4 months were involved in more than 90% of unintentional suffocation deaths [ 22 ]. Regarding the high incidence of unintentional suffocation in infants, the most likely explanation is the imperfect physiological functions of newborns and infants and poor care by parents, which leads to asphyxia in bedding or improper feeding and asphyxia caused by foreign bodies in the respiratory tract [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and environmental risk factors for unintentional suffocation among infants in China: a descriptive analysis

Miao

Zhu

et al. 2021

BMC Pediatr

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Background This retrospective study aimed to determine the epidemiological features of deaths caused by unintentional suffocation among infants in China. Methods The data used in this study were obtained from China’s Under 5 Child Mortality Surveillance System (U5CMSS) from October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016. A total of 377 children under 1 year of age who died from unintentional suffocation were included in the survey. Primary caregivers were interviewed individually using the Unintentional Suffocation Mortality among Children under 5 Questionnaire. EpiData was used to establish the database, and the results were analysed using SPSS 22.0. Results Most (85.9%) unintentional infant suffocations occurred in rural areas, and 67.5% occurred in infants 0 to 3 months old. Among the primary caregivers of the infants, most (82.7%) had a junior middle school education or below, and 83.1% of them lacked unintentional suffocation first aid skills. Of the 377 unintentional suffocated-infant deaths, the causes of death were accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) (193, 51.2%), inhalation suffocation (154, 40.8%), other unintentional suffocation (6, 1.6%), and unknown (24, 6.4%). Among the infant deaths due to ASSB, overlaying (88.6%) was the most frequently reported circumstance. A total of 93.8% of cases reported occurred during co-sleeping/bed sharing with parents, and in 72.8% of the cases, the infants were covered with the same quilt as their parents. In our study, most inhalation suffocation deaths (88.3%) involved liquid food (such as breast milk and formula milk). A total of 80.5% of infant deaths reportedly occurred after eating; in 28.2% of those cases, the infants were held upright and patted by their caregivers, and 57.2% of them were laid down to sleep immediately after eating. Conclusions To reduce the occurrence of unintentional suffocation, local government should strengthen knowledge and awareness of unintentional suffocation prevention and safety among parents and caregivers. Additionally, health care providers should educate parents and caregivers about safety issues of unintentional suffocation, and relevant policies should be introduced to provide environments and activities that reduce the risk of suffocation, such as promoting the Safe to Sleep Campaign. It is important to enhance the focus on infant unintentional suffocation as a health issue.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and environmental risk factors for unintentional suffocation among infants in China: a descriptive analysis

Miao

Zhu

et al. 2021

BMC Pediatr

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“…The current public health Safe Sleeping program contains six key messages: 1) Sleep baby on back; 2) Keep head and face uncovered; 3) Keep baby smoke free before and after birth; 4) Safe sleeping environment night and day; 5) Sleep baby in safe cot in parents' room; 6) Breastfeed baby [19,20]. Despite Australia's national evidence-based health promotion program, inconsistencies exist amid the many forms of advice families receive, with each state and territory's Health Department developing their own slightly modified policies and guidelines [17,[21][22][23]. This is especially so for those messages which have an emerging or developing evidence-base, such as shared sleeping, infant wrapping, and dummy use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infant care practices and parent uptake of safe sleep messages: a cross-sectional survey in Queensland, Australia

et al. 2020

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Background: Globally, the incidence of sleep-related infant mortality declined dramatically following the first public health campaigns seen internationally in the 1990s to reduce the risks of sudden infant death. However, Australian Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates have plateaued with little change in incidence since 2004 despite two further public health safe sleep campaigns. This study aims to describe contemporary infant care practices employed by families related to the current public health SUDI prevention program. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 3341 Queensland primary caregivers with infants approximately 3-months of age was conducted using the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages as a sampling frame. Surveys were returned either via reply-paid mail or online. Questionnaires explored prevalence of infant care practices and awareness of safe sleep recommendations. Univariable analysis was used to generate descriptive statistics for key variables. Results: Overall, only 13% of families routinely practised all six 'Safe Sleeping' program messages. More than one third (1118, 34%) of infants had slept in a non-supine sleep position at some time. Potentially hazardous sleep environments were common, with 38% of infants sleeping with soft items or bulky bedding, or on soft surfaces. Nearly half, for either day-or night-time sleeps, were routinely placed in a sleep environment that was not designed or recommended for safe infant sleep (i.e. a bouncer, pram, beanbag). Most babies (84%) were reportedly smoke free before and after birth. Sleeping in the same room as their caregiver for night-time sleeps was usual practice for 75% of babies. Half (1600, 50%) of all babies shared a sleep surface in the last two-weeks. At 8-weeks, 17% of infants were no longer receiving any breastmilk. Conclusions: The prevalence rates of infant care practices among this Australian population demonstrate many families continue to employ suboptimal practices despite Australia's current safe sleep campaign. Strategic approaches together with informed decisions about pertinent messages to feature within future public health campaigns and government policies are required so targeted support can be provided to families with young infants to aid the translation of safe sleep evidence into safe sleeping practices.

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“…Of the sudden unexpected infant deaths and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB, ICD-10-W75) incidents, 20%-80% occurred during co-sleeping. The mean age at the time of occurrence was 3.8 months in the United States (Gaw et al 2017), while infants under 6 months were involved in more than 90% of deaths/accidents in Australia (Bugeja et al 2016) consistent with more frequent occurrence at a lower age. On the basis of these reports and the results of the present study, co-sleeping was shown to increase the risk for infant suffocation incidents during early infancy, with some incidents potentially leading to deaths/accidents.…”

Section: Frequency Of Incidents and Factors Related To Infant Suffocamentioning

confidence: 75%

“…There were 21 reports of infant suffocation associated deaths/accidents with co-sleeping in Japan and other countries (Table 5: Nixon et al 1995;Drago and Dannenberg 1999;Nakamura et al 1999;Kemp et al 2000;Thogmartin et al 2001;Aoki et al 2006;Takatsu et al 2007;Kikuchi et al 2008;Blabey and Gessner 2009;Senter et al 2010;Weber et al 2012;Brixey et al 2011;Schnitzer et al 2012;Suzuki et al 2014;Colvin et al 2014;Sauber-Schatz et al 2015;Bugeja et al 2016;Thompson and Moon 2016;Chu et al 2016;Kassa et al 2016;Gaw et al 2017). Of the sudden unexpected infant deaths and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB, ICD-10-W75) incidents, 20%-80% occurred during co-sleeping.…”

Section: Frequency Of Incidents and Factors Related To Infant Suffocamentioning

confidence: 99%

Infant Suffocation Incidents Related to Co-Sleeping or Breastfeeding in the Side-Lying Position in Japan

Tokutake

Haga

Sakaguchi

et al. 2018

Tohoku J. Exp. Med.

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Co-sleeping and breastfeeding in the side-lying position have recently been pointed out as risk factors for suffocation in sleeping infants; however, there is no actual report on an "incident." "Incident" is defined as a tense or sobering experience without a consequential fatal suffocation accident. It is important to understand infant suffocation incidents to prevent accidents during co-sleeping and breastfeeding in the side-lying position. We investigated factors and frequency of infant suffocation incidents associated with co-sleeping and breastfeeding in the side-lying position using a self-administered questionnaire survey of 895 mothers during their infant's 1-, 4-, or 10-month health checkups. Co-sleeping and breastfeeding in the side-lying position were practiced by 28.3% and 56.0% of mothers, respectively; thus, 84.3% of the mothers surveyed were practicing either co-sleeping or breastfeeding in the side-lying position. Of those who received guidance from a medical professional, 36.1% practiced only co-sleeping while 60.1% practiced only side-lying breastfeeding. In the co-sleeping group, 10.6% had faced infant suffocation incidents, while 13.2% in the breastfeeding in the side-lying position group had faced similar incidents. Regarding factors associated with suffocation incidents while co-sleeping, the frequency of occurrence was significantly more in mothers of 1-month and 4-month-old infants compared with those of 10-month-old infants. Of mothers who faced suffocation incidents while breastfeeding in the side-lying position, 45% also had faced similar incidents while co-sleeping. These results demonstrate the importance of thoroughly educating mothers about the risks associated with co-sleeping and breastfeeding in the side-lying position for preventing infant suffocation.

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Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Victoria: A Retrospective Case Series Study

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Social and environmental risk factors for unintentional suffocation among infants in China: a descriptive analysis

Social and environmental risk factors for unintentional suffocation among infants in China: a descriptive analysis

Infant care practices and parent uptake of safe sleep messages: a cross-sectional survey in Queensland, Australia

Infant Suffocation Incidents Related to Co-Sleeping or Breastfeeding in the Side-Lying Position in Japan

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