Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research Papers

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) refers to the unforeseen and sudden death of a infant who is less than year with the autopsy, review of clinical history and death scene investigation failing to indicate any reasonable cause of death. Toddlers are often at the highest risk of SIDS when sleeping, and SIDS is sometimes known as cot or crib death (Hunt, 2007). The underlying cause of SIDS is a mystery although research has identified a number of characteristics and trends linked to the syndrome. SIDS is one of the prevalent causes of death in infants aged between one to 12 months, with most SIDS deaths occurring when infants are 2-4 months old. In the United States, each year, at least 4,500 babies die unexpectedly without any apparent cause …show more content…
The Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (2005) identifies four risk factors, which include sex, age, race, and family history. A Meta analysis by Sullivan & Barlow (2001) revealed that, male babies are more vulnerable to SIDS than female babies; babies aged 2-3 months are at more risk of SIDS; African Americans and native Indians are at a higher risk of developing SIDS; and that infants having other siblings who have died of SIDS are more vulnerable of succumbing to SIDS. Sullivan & Barlow (2001) identified a number of maternal risk factors linked to pregnancy such as smoking cigarettes, insufficient prenatal care, drug and alcohol use, and teenage mothers under 20. Sullivan & Barlow (2001) also identified a number of postnatal risk factors such as the prone sleeping position, lack of breastfeeding, high or low room temperatures, anemia, and …show more content…
The first prevention measure recommended by Hunt (2007) entails ensuring that there is sufficient air circulation in the room that the baby is sleeping. According to a study undertaken by Moon, Horne, & Hauck (2007) involving about 500 babies, there was a positive correlation between adequate air circulation using a fan and a reduced risk of SIDS. Moon, Horne, & Hauck (2007) asserts that this measure is plausible since a baby sleeping in a prone position often has his/her nose on the sleeping surface, which increases the chances of the baby re-inhaling some of the already exhaled air that is rich in carbon dioxide and low in oxygen. Using a fan in the sleeping room could play an integral role in mixing the exhalation into the air in the room; thus, reducing the SIDS risk associated with infant hypoxia. Moon, Horne, & Hauck (2007) reported that using a fan for air circulation reduced the SIDS risk by about 72 percent; therefore, poor sleeping environments should be well