The state of South Dakota's child: 2006--Part II--safe sleep

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has dramatically declined nationally and in South Dakota since the beginning of the "Back to Sleep Campaign" in 1994. Nonetheless, in spite of data showing that the majority of babies now are placed on their backs, data from the US and South Dakota show that racial disparities, the safety of infants' sleep environment, and child care are issues requiring attention as strategies are developed to prevent sudden unexpected infant deaths. Data from the Regional Infant and Child Mortality Review Committee that reviews deaths of infants and children in southeastern South Dakota show that among 37 cases, nearly half of all unexpected deaths of infants between 1997 and 2006 occurred in out-of-home child care settings, considerably higher than what would be expected with census data predictions. Fewer (82%) of the out-of-home deaths, versus in-home deaths (100%), were associated with risks of being put to sleep in a non-supine position or in the presence of other sleeping hazards.