Abstract □ 41

In previous years the epidemiological study of SIDS risk factors has been done. We have investigated 94 children who died suddenly and unexpectedly. The SIDS group was directly compared with 99 control matches for age, area, sex and ethnicity. One of the known risk factor is ethnicity. In our country the ethnic minority is represented by the gypsy ethnicity. We have been looking for a difference in a social status, birth-weight, and smoking in compare to caucasian population and also to a control gypsi group. In this ethnic minority we have founded the following differences:

  • Gypsies represent 5% from all inhabitants but in SIDS group they represent 31% of all SIDS victims

  • Birth-weight of gypsies in compare to a caucasians were statisticly significant lower in control group (p< 0,0001). This minor ethnicity had in avaredge 2 697 gr. in compare to 3 338 gr. of caucasian population. Birth-weight of gypsies in SIDS group in comparison with gypsies in control group was not statisticly significant. The explanation is very simple - in general gypsy newborns have an average lower birth-weight than caucasian population

  • Smoking as a risk factor has been founded only in gypsy population but not in caucasian one (p<0,002). In SIDS gypsy group was 77,3% of smoking parents in compare to 33,3% in a control group.

  • Socio-economic status has been found as a statisticly significant risk factor for SIDS (p<0,004). In both groups (SIDS and control) had the gypsy minority high social score what means a lower social status. The comparison between SIDS and control group in gypsy minority has showed a high social risk for gypsy SIDS group.

Not only all these statistically significant findings can explain why gypsy as an ethnic minority has so high risk for SIDS. Their standard of living is different to majority population. They have lower hygienic standard, more than 70% of them are unemployed and families have more children than major population. 95% of gypsy have only a basic education and have much worse habitation. Mother's care is not as good as in caucasian population. In this ethnic minority is also high consumption of alcohol not exception mothers.