ASSESSMENT OF MOTHERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICESABOUT THE PREVENTION OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

Abstract

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a common cause of infant mortality belowone year, and its causes remain unknown. However, simple protective practices in infantsleep and sleep environment can dramatically reduce its incidence. Aim: Assess themothers’ knowledge and practices for the prevention of SIDS. Method:Descriptiveresearch was conducted in postnatal department at general hospital in Kafrelsheikh city,Egypt, on 180 newly delivered mothers, free from eclampsia, chronic diseases and adelivered baby didn’t have health problem as neonatal jaundice or respiratory distresssyndrome. Interview questionnaire sheet was used to collect data about characteristics ofmothers and their infant; mothers’ knowledge and practices about SIDS. Results:Morethan three-quarters of mothers (85.00%) had poor knowledge level comared to only 10.6%and 4.4% of them had average and good knowledge level about SIDS. Besides, about halfof the studied mothers (44.4%) were unsatisfactory about SIDS. Conclusion: More thanthree-quarters of the mothers didn’t hear about SIDS and had poor knowledge level aboutSIDS. In addition, about half of the mothers demonstrated an unsatisfactory practice levelabout SIDS prevention. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation betweenthe studied mothers’ total score of knowledge and reported practicesRecommendation: Aregular health education program should be done by a pediatric nurse in the neonatal careunit and on every health visit for the infant in his first year for improving the newlydelivered mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding SIDS prevention and safe sleep recommendations.