Abstract â–¡ 132

The objective of this study was to describe characteristics of predominantly low socioeconomic (SES) Hispanic immigrant families residing in an urban setting who participated in a home event monitoring study, and to identify factors associated with adherence to the study program.

A total of 108 premature babies from 105 Hispanic families were enrolled in the Collaborative Home Infant Monitoring Evaluation (CHIME) prior to hospital discharge. As part of the study protocol, families were asked to monitor their baby during sleep and when unsupervised until 4 months postconceptional age. After infants had past their first birthday, a semi-structured telephone exit interview, designed specifically for this study, was performed by bilingual interviewers to obtain responses in seven quantifiable categories. Of the 105 eligible families, 41 completed the interview, 64 could not be located and 5 declined. Two interviewed families were excluded because their monitoring did not fit the protocol. Nineteen were classified as more adherent with a median monitor use of 997 hours (range: 580 - 2310) and twenty as less adherent with a median monitor use of 135 hours (range: 1 - 401). Even though only 19 adherent families were available for the interview, their median monitor use was representative of the majority of the 105 Hispanic families enrolled.

Interviewed families were similar in demographic characteristics to non-interviewed families. For both study groups combined, 85% of the families interviewed reported that they felt competent using the monitor within 2 weeks; 38% reported that family members never helped the mother with monitoring; 41% reported reluctance in leaving their babies with anyone while being monitored; 36% reported that the father was not supportive or uninvolved; 44% reported that the size and weight of the monitor were a problem; 51% reported that they perceived a need for the monitor; and 67% reported that they had a fear of SIDS. Fear of SIDS was the only factor that significantly differed between the two groups. Families that reported a fear of SIDS were 4.25 times more likely to be in the more adherent than less adherent group (95% Cl 1.2, 15.7, p=.006).

In conclusion, the less adherent families felt as competent in their monitoring skills as the more adherent families, a statement supported by at least limited monitoring. Fear of SIDS was the single most important factor associated with enhanced adherence. The majority of our Hispanic population adhered respectably to a medical regimen that they perceived as beneficial. Follow up of this low SES, Hispanic cohort proved difficult because of a transient lifestyle.

Supported by NICHD Grants #HD29060 & #HD29067