Roni Cole1,2, Jeanine Young1,2, Lauren Kearney1,2, John M D Thompson1,3. 1. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia. 2. Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Birtinya, Australia. 3. Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
AIM: To understand which safe sleep recommendations parents find most challenging to implement, identifying common barriers encountered; and, investigate if challenges are associated with practices employed. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 3341 Australian families with young infants who birthed a live baby during April-May 2017. Caregivers were asked about infant care practices and family characteristics. Qualitative free-text items explored challenges faced with current safe sleep recommendations. RESULTS: Nearly one-third (n=1033, 31%) of caregivers reported difficulty with at least one safe sleep recommendation. Infant sleep position and avoiding bedsharing were identified as the most challenging recommendations. Caregivers described barriers which influenced consistency in uptake of advice. Families who described difficulty with a recommendation were significantly less likely to consistently employ that advice compared to those who did not report difficulty (sleep position: 198/473,42% vs 2548/2837,90% [p<0.0001]; own sleep space: (269/344,78% vs 1331/2884,46% [p<0.0001]). When families encountered challenges, they often proposed alternate strategies with an inference their substitute action compensated potential increased risk. CONCLUSION: Many families encounter difficulties implementing safe sleep advice; these challenges negatively impact care practices. Effective interventions meeting individual family needs to provide safe sleep environments consistently are necessary to improve sleep-related infant care and further reduce infant mortality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
AIM: To understand which safe sleep recommendations parents find most challenging to implement, identifying common barriers encountered; and, investigate if challenges are associated with practices employed. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 3341 Australian families with young infants who birthed a live baby during April-May 2017. Caregivers were asked about infant care practices and family characteristics. Qualitative free-text items explored challenges faced with current safe sleep recommendations. RESULTS: Nearly one-third (n=1033, 31%) of caregivers reported difficulty with at least one safe sleep recommendation. Infant sleep position and avoiding bedsharing were identified as the most challenging recommendations. Caregivers described barriers which influenced consistency in uptake of advice. Families who described difficulty with a recommendation were significantly less likely to consistently employ that advice compared to those who did not report difficulty (sleep position: 198/473,42% vs 2548/2837,90% [p<0.0001]; own sleep space: (269/344,78% vs 1331/2884,46% [p<0.0001]). When families encountered challenges, they often proposed alternate strategies with an inference their substitute action compensated potential increased risk. CONCLUSION: Many families encounter difficulties implementing safe sleep advice; these challenges negatively impact care practices. Effective interventions meeting individual family needs to provide safe sleep environments consistently are necessary to improve sleep-related infant care and further reduce infant mortality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Entities:
Keywords:
Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI); infant care practices; infant mortality; safe sleep messages; sudden infant death