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Safe Sleep Advice to Safe Sleep Action: Pilot of the Pepi-pod Program in Indigenous communities
Conference presentation   Open access

Safe Sleep Advice to Safe Sleep Action: Pilot of the Pepi-pod Program in Indigenous communities

Jeanine Young, Leanne Craigie, Lauren Kearney, Stephanie Cowan and Karen Watson
USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2014
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Abstract

Public Health and Health Services
Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies are three times more likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than non-Indigenous infants1. Sharing sleep surfaces is the cultural norm in Indigenous communities,2 however deaths are associated with hazardous co-sleeping environments3. Valued cultural practices need recognition in order to make public health messages effective4. Research Aim: To trial a culturally appropriate adaptation of the Pēpi-pod Program in Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to determine acceptability and feasibility. Methods: An exploratory descriptive design was used to report parent experiences of using the Pēpi-pod Program to support safe infant sleep (n=300). The Pēpi-pod Program comprises: 1) Safe Space: a polypropylene box transformed into an infant bed through addition of appropriate bedding; 2) Safe Care: Parent education; 3) Family commitment to spread what safe sleeping messages to their social network. The Program was delivered at 6 sites across Queensland (metropolitan to rural/remote). Eligible participants were informed and consenting parent/s of babies (target recruitment<1 month of age) with one or more known SUDI risk factors. Data collection included acceptability and use of the Pēpi-pod Program. Results: Interim results (n=35) demonstrate a high level of acceptability for the Pēpi-pod amongst families. All families (to date) had intended to bed share with two or more risk factors for SUDI present. The acceptability of the Pēpi-pod as a safe sleep space for babies was supported by parent responses that related to three key themes: safety, convenience and portability. Conclusions: Results to date have highlighted that the Pēpi-pod Program is acceptable and feasible, demonstrating the potential for long term support and sustainability. Innovative strategies which allow for benefits of bed-sharing, respect cultural norms and infant care practices, whilst enabling the infant to sleep in a safe environment are necessary if a reduction in SUDI is to be achieved.

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