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Sudden Instant Death Syndrome

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Sudden Instant Death Syndrome (SIDS) SIDS, also known as crib death, continues to be the number 1 killer of children age one month to 1 year in the United States; however, most SIDS related deaths typically occur within the 1-4 month age range. The Mayo Clinic (2017), defines Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. Although there is no definite etiology of SIDS, several risk factors have been identified. Risk Factors For reasons unknown, African Americans, Native Alaskans, and Native Americans are more likely to die of SIDS and boys have a higher incidence rate as well. Several environmental risk factors have been identified, such as exposure to …show more content…

Despite a decline in SIDS related deaths in all Ethnic groups within the US in 2013, African Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives had double the SIDS related mortality rate when compared to non-Hispanic whites References (CDC, 2017). This disparity reiterates the importance of additional education regarding SIDS prevention measures to further decrease the rate of occurrence. Recommendations It is my recommendation that we provide education regarding SIDS to postpartum mothers before they are discharged from the hospital. The nurse gets to spend one on one time with the parents and can provide them with valuable information regarding SIDS prevention. Additionally, it would be beneficial to emphasize the importance of breastfeeding due to the lower rate of occurrence in breastfed infants. This education can also be provided postpartum and at all wellness follow-up visits. Regarding the high incidence rates in African American, Alaskan Native, and American Indian infants, it is imperative that we initiate programs to foster the needs of minorities, especially those facing socioeconomic difficulties. Additional federal funding to provide additional care and support to these at-risk populations would be a step in the right direction. Offering programs that can provide transportation for the necessary prenatal care that will reinforce the importance of placing infants on their backs for sleeping as well as the many preventative

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