SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of postneonatal mortality in the United States. To reduce the risk for SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all healthy babies be placed to sleep on their backs. In 1994, a national “Back-to-Sleep” education campaign was begun to encourage healthcare providers and the public to adopt a back or side sleeping position for all infants. To assess the response to these recommendations, CDC analyzed population-based data on infant sleeping positions during 1996 and 1997 from 13 states participating in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis and indicates that from 1996 to 1997 placement of infants in the stomach sleeping position declined significantly in four states and placement of infants in the back sleeping position increased significantly in nine states. However, the percentage of infants placed on their stomachs continued to differ by state, maternal demographics.

In his February 21st, 1998, radio address, the President committed the Nation to an ambitious goal: by the year 2010, eliminate the disparities in six areas of health status experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations while continuing the progress we have made in improving the overall health of the American people. The Department of Health and Human Services is leading this effort to eliminate disparities in health access and outcomes in:
• Infant Mortality
• Cancer Screening and Management
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Diabetes
• HIV Infection
• Child and Adult Immunizations
Although infant mortality in the United States has declined steadily over the past several decades and is at a record low of 7.2 per 1,000 live births (1996 data), the United States still ranks 24th in infant mortality compared with other industrialized nations.