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Editorial
Editorial Archives
Friday, October 15, 2004; Page 27
Simple Steps Can Reduce SIDS
African American infants are twice as likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as are White infants, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Development of National Institute of Health (NICHD/NIH). Since October has been declared SIDS Awareness Month, Mayor Anthony Williams announced on Wednesday, a new phase of a public awareness campaign aimed at educating parents, grandparents and infant caregivers about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.
The statistic is not new. In 1994, the NICHD determined SIDS rates for African Americans were double those for Caucasians. A national public awareness campaign aimed at reducing SIDS called Back to Sleep was launched and resulted in a significant reduction of SIDS cases in both African American and Caucasian families. While both groups have demonstrated about a 50 percent reduction in SIDS, the disparity among African Americans still remains.
A host of national organizations responded to former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher who, in 2000, challenged leaders to join a national campaign to reduce SIDS and infant mortality in African American communities. The Women in the NAACP, the Coalition of 100 Black Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the National Black Child Development Institute (NCBDI) have formed Partnerships for Reducing the Risk of SIDS in African American Communities to address the disparity by educating families to do something as simple as place infants on their backs for sleep.
Since the campaign was launched 10 years ago, the rate of SIDS has dropped dramatically. Yet, African Americans are still more likely to place infants on their stomachs for sleep which has been determined to be a major risk factor for SIDS. Others risk factors include exposure to smoke, overheating, and infant bedding.
Babies Sleep Safest on Their Backs will incorporate ads on busses and Metrorail and public service announcements on radio stations repeating the message that not enough African American families have heard. |
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