Sleep Position, Smoking and Breast Feeding: Results of The Internation Child Care Practice Survey

Abstract □ 28

A random sample of infants at 3 months of age were surveyed by mainly postal questionnaire in the coldest 2 months of the year in each of 19 centers in 17 countries. A total of 4824 individual families returned questionnaires. The sampling and data collection methods have already been outlined. The 1 - 5 month mortality and post neonatal mortality of each individual center was collected.

Overall, 44.5% of infants were placed to sleep in the supine sleep position. The variation in country incidence of supine sleeping was from 8.3% (Istanbul) to over 90% in 2 countries.

The prevalence of reported smoking amongst parents is shown in figure 1. In general fathers smoked more frequently than mothers.

Overall 52% of infants has some degree of breast feeding at 3 months of age with considerable variation between countries.

Conclusion: There is considerable variation child care practices that directly influence the risk of SIDS between countries. Variations in post neonatal mortality rates are likely to at least in part, related to these differences. (Figure)