Abstract â–¡ 14

African American (AA) babies die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at an alarmingly disproportionate rate. While rates for all racial-ethnic groups in the U.S. have declined, the gap between African Americans and whites and Hispanics has increased. The Chicago Infant Mortality Study (CIMS), conducted from 1993-1996, found that many AA mothers who lost an infant to SIDS were unaware of the risk factors for SIDS prior to the infant's death. In order to better educate mothers and other care givers about risk factors associated with SIDS, the Loyola team, in conjunction with the SIDS Alliance of Illinois, has begun to develop educational strategies targeting the AA community, based on findings from CIMS and focus groups at health centers in Chicago's highest risk neighborhoods. To prepare for evaluation of this reduce the risk campaign, a survey was developed and pilot tested in the fall of 1998 with 50 AA and Hispanic mothers of infants under 1 year of age who were participating in WIC, a public health nutrition program for income-eligible families. Questions included infant care practices related to sleep environment, maternal behaviors such as smoking and breast feeding, and knowledge of ways to reduce the risk for SIDS. Problems encountered in using the self-administered questionnaire resulted in changes in both the survey (length and content) and manner of administration. Results from the pilot survey indicate that the majority of women had heard of SIDS (92%). However, a quarter of the responders had not not heard of ways to reduce the risk. Of these who had heard main sources of information include hospital staff, books and magazines, family and friends television, and WIC clinics. Eighteen percent of women responded that they place their infants in the prone position for night time sleep (50% back and 20% side, and 12% no usual position). Bed sharing was common among respondents-58%. Crib use was more frequent among Hispanic women that AA women (75% vs. 18%, p<0.01). The most common reason for not using a crib was that "they are dangerous" (38%). The revised survey is now being administered. Mothers participating in WIC are required to attend classes at the WIC clinic on a variety of child health and nutrition topics. Before class begins, the questions are read by a member of the Loyola team and women respond on an answer sheet. Following this, the team presents a short educational program on SIDS and risk reduction, allowing ample time for questions and interaction. Reactions to the reduce the risk messages presented during these classes will be described, in addition to results from the current baseline survey (anticipated sample size 200).