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Study Shows Black Babies More Susceptible To S.I.D.S A new survey by the City Depart-ment of Health found that 38% of African-Americans reported putting infants down to sleep on their stomachs, compared with 11% of other re-spondents. Back to sleep practices are closely correlated with infant deaths. Fifty infants died from SIDS or a cause likely related to SIDS in 2002. Vital Statistics data from 1999-2002, which showed that (52%) of reported SIDS deaths in New York City were among African-American infants, which translates into a SIDS death rate of 5.4 per 10,000 live births for African-American infants, nearly twice the rate for Hispanics (2.9) and more than 10 times the rate for whites (0.5). SIDS is the diagnosis given for a sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 12 months of age. The majority of SIDS deaths occur in infants 2-4 months old. Nationally, SIDS is the leading cause death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age, and nationally, the third overall cause of infant death behind very low birth weight and birth defects. "Overall, SIDS deaths are down markedly in New York City over the past several years, "Health Commis-sioner Dr. Frieden said. "Efforts to promote putting infants to sleep on their backs have also contributed to preventing SIDS deaths in the City." "However," Dr. Frieden continued, "distrubing disparities exist, particularly among African-American babies. Our recent community survey suggests that ‘back to sleep’ prevention messages have not been communicated effectively in some communities. Ef-forts must be strengthened to ensure that the message on sleep position is reaching all NYC families, and to address concerns parents and caregivers may have about putting infants to sleep on their backs." • Enhance provider education about risk reduction for SIDS and other causes of infant death • Develop a public education campaign targeted to African-American teens, parents and caregivers that is informed by the beliefs and cultural practices of this community • Raise awareness of national "Back to Sleep" campaign recommendations among parents and caregivers (The "Back to Sleep" public education campaign, started in 1994, advocates putting babies back to sleep on their backs).
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