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Parents' behavior in response to infant crying: abusive head trauma education
Hina Simonnet1, Anne Laurent-Vannier2, Wenlun Yuan3
1Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Neurological Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France; Paediatric Neurology Department, Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.
Insights
A simple educational intervention significantly improved parents' knowledge about infant crying and abusive head trauma (AHT). This brief talk and pamphlet are feasible for healthcare providers to deliver to new parents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Abuse Prevention
- Public Health Education
Background:
- Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a leading cause of death in child abuse cases, with infant crying often cited as a trigger.
- Parental knowledge regarding infant crying management and AHT is often insufficient.
- Early intervention is crucial for preventing AHT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental knowledge about infant crying and AHT.
- To evaluate the feasibility and impact of a brief educational intervention on parental knowledge.
- To determine the acceptability and usefulness of the intervention for new parents.
Main Methods:
- A pre- and post-intervention questionnaire study involving parents of newborns.
- An educational intervention consisting of a pediatrician-led talk and pamphlet on infant crying and AHT.
- Feasibility assessed by ease of delivery; impact measured by knowledge change via phone follow-up at 6 weeks.
Main Results:
- The educational intervention was feasible and easy to implement.
- A significant improvement in parental knowledge about infant crying and AHT was observed post-intervention.
- Parents found the intervention acceptable and useful, indicating potential for widespread adoption.
Conclusions:
- A brief educational intervention delivered by healthcare professionals can effectively increase parental knowledge regarding infant crying and AHT.
- This intervention is feasible, acceptable, and useful for new parents.
- Routine implementation during newborn examinations could help prevent AHT.
Abstract:
Abusive head trauma (AHT) is still too common, and probably underestimated. It is the leading cause of death from child abuse. Crying is thought to contribute to the act of shaking. Objectives of this study were to (a) assess parents' knowledge about infant crying, their ability to manage crying, and their knowledge about AHT; and (b) assess the feasibility and the impact of a simple educational intervention about crying and AHT with parents shortly after their child's birth. A short questionnaire was completed orally by the parents of 190 consecutive newborns in a maternity hospital at day 2 of life. Then, during the routine examination of the child, the pediatrician gave parents a short talk about infant crying and AHT, and a pamphlet. Finally, parents were contacted by phone at 6 weeks for the post-intervention questionnaire assessing their knowledge about crying and AHT. Among 202 consecutive births, parents of 190 children were included (266 parents; 70% mothers) over a 1-month period and answered the pre-intervention questionnaire. The intervention was feasible and easy to provide. Twenty-seven percent of mothers and 36% of fathers had never heard of AHT. At 6 weeks, 183 parents (68% of the sample; 80% mothers) answered the post-intervention questionnaire. Parents' knowledge improved significantly post-intervention. Parents found the intervention acceptable and useful. Health care professionals such as pediatricians or nurses could easily provide this brief talk to all parents during systematic newborn examination.