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Fill Malfertheiner S, Postpischil J, Gaertner VD, Brandstetter S, Metcalfe AJ, Seelbach-Göbel B, Apfelbacher C, Melter M, Kabesch M, Kerzel S. Maternal knowledge of recommendations for safe infant sleep and intentions for implementation - a cross sectional analysis of data from the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study. J Perinat Med 2023; 51:423-431. [PMID: 36173665 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite major advances in prevention, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains an important cause of infant mortality. The aim of our study was to determine actual knowledge and intentions to implement SIDS prevention measures among new mothers and to identify potential knowledge gaps for improved postpartum counselling strategies. METHODS Data was collected in a standardized interview from participants of the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study before discharge from maternity ward. The mothers did not receive any specific teaching prior to the interview. RESULTS The majority of 2,526 interviewed mothers were able to actively report important recommendations for safe infant sleep, including the exclusive face-up position. However, 154 mothers (9%) intended to position the newborn face-down sometimes or often. The most frequently envisaged sleeping furniture was a bedside sleeper (n=1,144, 47%), but 2.2% of mothers indicated that the intended default sleeping place for the newborn would be the parents' bed (which is discouraged by the recommendations). For 43% of the infants (n=1,079), mothers planned to have loose objects in the bed and 189 mothers (7%) intended to use a loose blanket. 22% of infants (n=554) will live in a household with a smoker. Multivariate regression showed a significant association of "good knowledge" with maternal age and with not being a single parent, whereas the household size was negatively associated. CONCLUSION Although the majority of mothers in our birth cohort were aware of many recommendations for safe infant sleep, our data also uncovered weaknesses in SIDS prevention knowledge and point to specific areas with potential for improved counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fill Malfertheiner
- University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Janina Postpischil
- Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Vincent D Gaertner
- Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Newborn Research, Department of Neonatology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Brandstetter
- KUNO University Children's Hospital Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,WECARE Research and Development Campus Regensburg at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Alan J Metcalfe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Birgit Seelbach-Göbel
- University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Apfelbacher
- WECARE Research and Development Campus Regensburg at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany.,Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research (ISMHSR), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Melter
- KUNO University Children's Hospital Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Kabesch
- Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,WECARE Research and Development Campus Regensburg at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kerzel
- Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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