A strong economy and changes in the welfare system have resulted in more employment for low-income mothers and more hours in childcare for their young children. Public health implications of this shift in caregiver include the need to educate childcare providers about reducing the risk of SIDS. These providers include young mothers who live with their mothers, grandparents, and center and in-home paid childcare providers. Like other counties across the country, Multnomah County’s incidence of SIDS has dropped in recent years. Between 1990 and 1998, the incidence of SIDS in the county dropped 63% from 27 to 10 infant deaths.
A team of two nurse managers, a community health nurse, and the WIC program manager participating in the Multnomah County Health Department Public Health Academy (a health department training in epidemiology and public health principles) identified the need for more information about awareness of and success of implementing the Back to Sleep campaign by in-home childcare providers in our community. This team met with groups of these providers through provider networks created by the county social services department. We conducted focus groups to collect the following information: provider awareness of the Back to Sleep campaign, accuracy of their understanding of the campaign content, their success in implementing their knowledge, barriers they may face in this effort, and how they work with parents regarding communication about Back to Sleep interventions. Findings from these focus groups, including cultural variations to the topic will be presented in the poster.
Learning Objectives: 1. List the recommendations for Reducing the Risk for SIDS. 2. Identify the secondary caregiver populations at risk for not practicing the Reduce the Risk strategies in an urban community. 3. Discuss the impact of the Back to Sleep campaign on the incidence of SIDS. 4. Describe the findings from focus groups with in-home childcare providers
Keywords: Child Care, SIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Multnomah County Health Department
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.