Knowledge, opinions, and practices of infant sleep position among parents

This study's objective was to assess the knowledge, opinions, and practices of infants' sleep positions and their association with demographics. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to survey a convenience sample of military beneficiary parents being seen at a military treatment facility in the United States. A 19-item investigator-designed questionnaire was adapted using the "Safe Sleep Survey" developed by Indiana Perinatal Network. A sample of 161 parents responded. Forty percent were fully aware of the safe sleep facts for infants; 85% believed supine position was the safest; and 69% of those who believed supine position to be the safest also practiced their belief. Major reasons for nonsupine sleeping positions were for infant preference, comfort, and fear of choking; whereas supine position was for safety reasons. Parents' opinions of safe position and their practices (p < 0.001) were significantly associated, whereas knowledge on infant safe sleep facts (p = 0.611) was not. The results indicate that there is still a need for education. However, merely providing information to increase knowledge alone is not enough to change behavior, as attitude was an important factor for the behavior. Theory-based intervention associated with change in behavior will have an impact on parents' attitudes.