NEW-ZEALAND SIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM AND REDUCTION IN INFANT-MORTALITY

New Zealand has suffered a very high mortality rate from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as ''crib death'' or ''cot death.'' This prompted the development of the New Zealand Cot Death Study, a c ase-controlled epidemiological study. The preliminary findings of this study identified three risk behaviors potentially amenable to modific ation: prone sleeping position of the infant, maternal smoking, and no t breastfeeding. These findings were discussed with the major stakehol ders of child health. The Department of Health coordinated the develop ment of a health education SIDS prevention program. Since the Help Pre vent Cot Death Programme was launched in February 1991, the rate of to tal infant deaths, which was 10.1/1000 live births in 1987, fell to 7. 6/1000 live births in 1991. The SIDS rate fell from 4.2/1000 in 1987 t o 2.5/1000 in 1991. It is suggested that the described health educatio n program had a significant influence on this improvement in infant su rvival.