Skip Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention curve spacer CDC Home Search CDC CDC Health Topics A-Z    

Office of Minority Health Title Barfather showing a daughter how to hit a bat

   
OMH Logo small bar spacer

OMH HomeAbout UsSitemapContact Usbar spacer

   

Small horizontal bar collage containing four portraits; each of person of a different racial or ethnic background.

About Minority Health
Cooperative Agreements
Reports & Publications
Minority Health Resources
Racial & Ethnic Minority Populations
Training Opportunities

 

 

   
     
Highlights in Minority Health
February, 2004

      In Focus Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
 
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)
  Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of post neonatal mortality in the United States, where approximately 3,000 infants die each year from SIDS. In most cases, infants appear healthy before succumbing to SIDS. Great progress has been achieved in understanding SIDS and reducing the number of deaths caused by this tragic disorder. Less than a decade ago, almost twice as many American infants were dying of SIDS than is the case today.
  Although SIDS rates have declined in all populations throughout the United States during the last decade, disparities in SIDS rates and in the prevalence of risk factors remain evident in certain groups.  The SIDS rate among American Indians (1.5 per 1,000) and African Americans (1.4 per 1,000) remains more than twice that of whites (0.6 per 1,000).  In contrast, infants born to Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander mothers have among the lowest SIDS rates (0.4 per 1,000).
 
WHO IS AT RISK FOR SIDS?
  red square Babies who sleep on their stomachs.
  red square Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy and babies that are exposed to passive smoke after birth.
  red square Babies born to mothers who are less than 20 years old at the time of their first pregnancy.
  red square Babies born to mothers who had no or late prenatal care.
  red square Babies who are premature or low birth weight.
  red square Babies who are placed to sleep on soft surfaces such as soft mattresses, sofas, sofa cushions, waterbeds, sheep skins, or other soft surfaces.
  red square Babies who are placed to sleep in an environment containing fluffy and loose bedding, such as pillows, quilts or other coverings, stuffed toys, and other soft items.
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO
  While there is currently no way to predict which babies will die from SIDS, there are ways to lower the risk of SIDS:
  blue square Place babies to sleep on their backs, unless advised otherwise by a physician.
  blue square Place the baby on a firm mattress, such as in a safety-approved crib or other firm surface.
  blue square Remove all fluffy and loose bedding, such as fluffy blankets or other coverings, pillows, quilts, and stuffed toys, from the baby’s sleep area.
  blue square Get good prenatal care, including proper nutrition, no maternal smoking or drug/alcohol use, and frequent medical check-ups beginning early in pregnancy.
  blue square Take babies for regular well-baby check-ups and routine immunizations.

 
FOR MORE INFORMATION
  Office of Minority Health (OMH)
   Eliminate Disparities in Infant Mortality
   Bed Sharing with Siblings, Soft Bedding, Increase SIDS Risk
  National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
Reproductive Health Information Source
   Surveillance and Research: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
   Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, United States, 1983–1994
National Vaccine Program Office Fact Sheets (NVPO)
   Facts About SIDS
  National Immunization Program (NIP)
   SIDS and Vaccination
  National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
   Infant Mortality Statistics from the 1999 Period Linked
     Birth/Infant Death Data Set
   SIDS Deaths Reach New Record Low in 1997, but Disparities
     Persist for Minority Communities
   Health United States, 2002. Table 23: Infant Mortality Rates,
     1950-2000
  Office of Communication (OC)
  
Study Identifies SIDS Risk Factors Among American Indian
      Infants
  Office of Genomics & Disease Prevention (OGDP)
   Is the G985A Allelic Variant of Medium Chain Acyl-CoA
     Dehydrogenase (MCAD) a Risk Factor for Sudden Infant
     Death Syndrome (SIDS)? A Pooled Analysis
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Assessment of Infant Sleeping Position -- Selected States, 1996
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Infant Mortality Rates --- 60 Largest U.S. Cities, 1995--1998
Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Premature Mortality due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Decrease in Infant Mortality and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Among Northwest American Indians and Alaskan Natives -- Pacific Northwest, 1985-1996
Current Trends Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as a Cause of Premature Mortality United States, 1984 and 1985
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome -- United States, 1983-1994
Infant Mortality and Low Birth Weight Among Black and White Infants --- United States, 1980--2000
Type of Certifier and Autopsy Rates for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome -- Washington, 1980-1994
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome -- United States, 1980-1988
Seasonality in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome -- United States, 1980-1987
  Indian Health Service (IHS)
   SIDS
   Study Identifies SIDS Risk Factors Among American Indian
     Infants
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD)
   "Back to Sleep" Campaign
   Babies Sleep Safest on Their Backs: Reduce the Risk of
     Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
   Targeting Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): A Strategic
     Plan
   SIDS Fact Sheet
Medline Plus: SIDS
First Candle/SIDS Alliance


 

 

Conferences
& Events

Section Menu

  red square Conferences
& Events
  red square Current
Highlight
  red square Archive
Highlights
    2004
red square  November
red square  November
red square  November
red square  November
red square  October
red square  October
red square  Sept./October
red square  Sept./October
red square  September
red square  September
red square  September
red square  September
red square  September
red square  August
red square  June/July
red square  May
red square  May
red square  April
red square  April
red square  March
red square  February
red square  February
         In Focus
red square  January
red square  January

2003

2002

Section Menu

 
 

OMH Home | About Us | Sitemap | Contact Us
Accessibility | Privacy Policy | CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z

Last Updated on November 03, 2004
Office of Minority Health

Please Note: Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.