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Who doesn’t get the message?: evidence from the Queensland infant care practices study
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Who doesn’t get the message?: evidence from the Queensland infant care practices study

J Thompson, Jeanine Young and D Battistutta
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, Vol.5(2), p.114
SIDS International Conference, 10th (Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 23-Jun-2008–26-Jun-2008)
2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9058-4
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9058-4View
Published Version

Abstract

Clinical Sciences
Objective: To determine factors associated with non-compliance of reduce the risk messages for sudden infant death in a cohort of Queensland infants aged approximately 3 months. Methods: A target population of all infants born in Queensland during April 2002 was identified using the Queensland perinatal database as a sampling frame. A cross-sectional survey was performed using a postal questionnaire at approximately 3 months of age. Survey questions included infant and maternal demographics and practices related to the Reduce the Risk (RTR) recommendations. Perinatal data was also obtained. Analyses were conducted using logistic regression. Results: Completed surveys were returned from 2,534 (64%) primary caregivers. Uptake of RTR recommendations in the care of infants remains relatively poor in Queensland. The prevalence of risk factors was 38.5% for non-supine sleep positions (usual practice in the last 2 weeks); 60.6% of infants were not placed feet to foot if placed to sleep in a cot; 21.8% of mothers reported smoking currently, while 40.1% were no longer giving the infant any breast milk. Only 23.3% of the sample practiced the RTR messages, while only 14.9% practiced the RTR recommendations and breastfeeding. Factors commonly associated with not complying with RTR messages in multivariable analyses were young maternal age, living in rural or remote areas, single mothers, being a public patient, and an increasing number of previous pregnancies. Conclusions: Despite continued public campaigns promoting reducing the risk factors associated with sudden infant death, the ''hard to get to'' population remains the most under-exposed to these public health messages. New methodologies need to be developed in the public health system to educate parents, present and future, of the risks associated with sudden infant death.

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