October 1, 2007

Little Rock -- Despite strong national campaigns to educate the public, many parents still do not know that it is best to place a baby to sleep on his or her back. Addressing that concern is the focus of a new campaign being conducted statewide by the Arkansas Department of Health during the month of October. Demonstrations will take place across the state, beginning with The Child Development Center at 324 West Eighth Street in Little Rock today. The goal of the campaign is to get this information to the parent and caregiver of every baby born in Arkansas this coming year. Just over 40,000 children were born in Arkansas last year.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains a significant threat in America today. The most recent statistics in Arkansas are from 2005, and show that forty-two infants died from SIDS or other unknown/undetermined causes. Out of those forty-two, 34 were white and eight were non-white. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) report, 2003 Targeting SIDS: A Strategic Plan reports the rate of SIDS among African Americans and American Indians/Native Americans is still at least twice that of Caucasians.

Arkansas is mounting a statewide campaign using materials designed to reduce the risk of SIDS. The statewide “Back to Sleep” campaign will emphasize the proper way to put a baby to sleep to help prevent SIDS.

The Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHHD) at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is hosting the event, which will be attended by Yvonne T. Maddox, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

“Placing infants to sleep on their backs—for naps and at night—is the simplest way to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” Dr. Maddox said. “Other ways to reduce SIDS risk are to place a baby on a firm sleep surface such as a safety-approved crib mattress covered by a fitted sheet, keeping soft objects such as toys and loose bedding out of the baby's sleep area, not allowing smoking around the baby, keeping the baby's sleep area close to — but separate from — where parents and others sleep, offering a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant on his or her back to sleep, and not allowing the baby to become overheated while sleeping.”

Campaign information has been distributed statewide to all ADH Local Health Units and the 73 Hometown Health Improvement Coalitions. Materials will be sent to the 45 Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) members who have obstetrical and/or maternity services. For more information or materials contact Christine Patterson, Director, Office of Minority Health, Arkansas Department of Health, (501) 661-2193 cbpatterson@arkansas.gov.

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