Changes in parental risk behaviour after an information campaign against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Norway.

AIM

To assess parental risk behaviour before and after a sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) information campaign with special emphasis on associations with maternal age, education, marital status and birth order.

METHODS

Data from questionnaires sent to all mothers who gave birth in Norway during a period before the campaign were compared with corresponding data obtained after the campaign.

RESULTS

Prevalence of non-supine sleeping position decreased from 33.7% to 13.6% while changes in smoking, non-breastfeeding and co-sleeping were disappointing. Risk factors were particularly prevalent in young mothers, but also in mothers with a minimum period of education, non-cohabitation and at birth order 2+.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-supine sleeping decreased to a level that has never been reported before. In future campaigns, subgroup-specific measures may be needed.