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Changes to infant sleep practices in Canterbury
R P Ford1, P J Schluter, S Cowan
1Community Paediatric Unit, Canterbury Health, Christchurch.
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|March 30, 2000
Summary
Public health campaigns have successfully reduced prone sleeping for infants in Canterbury. While mattress wrapping increased, most mothers do not use plastic or rubber covers for infant safety.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains a public health concern in New Zealand.
- Infant sleep practices are significant risk factors for SIDS.
- Understanding current sleep practices is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of infant sleep practices in Canterbury, New Zealand.
- To compare current practices with historical data from the New Zealand Cot Death Study (NZCDS).
- To assess the effectiveness of public health initiatives aimed at reducing SIDS risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 411 mothers in Canterbury completed a questionnaire on infant sleep practices in 1997.
- Results were compared to 174 control infants from the 1987-90 NZCDS.
- A subset of mothers using mattress covers completed a follow-up questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Non-prone sleeping position significantly increased (2.9% vs. 39.7%), indicating campaign success.
- Room sharing remained similar, but infants were more likely to sleep in their own beds (75.9% vs. 48.9%).
- Mattress wrapping with plastic and rubber significantly increased (14.6% vs. 4.0% and 8.4% vs. 3.4% respectively), primarily to prevent soiling, not for safety.
Conclusions:
- The 'non-prone sleeping' campaign has been highly effective in Canterbury.
- Increased use of separate sleeping surfaces for infants sharing a room with mothers.
- While mattress wrapping has increased, its use for infant safety is not the primary driver.