UNEXPECTED DEATH IN INFANCY - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY IN THE HAIFA DISTRICT, ISRAEL

The incidence of unexpected death in infancy (UDI) (2 weeks-12 months) in the Haifa area is 1.17 per 1000 live births. We found a significan t interethnic difference between Israeli Jews and Arabs. The incidence among Arabs was 4 per 1000, but was only 0.77 per 1000 among Jews (p < 0.01). When the UDI Jewish group was compared to both the group of i nfants dying of known causes and the surviving group, the only signifi cant factors related to UDI were found to be: young maternal age and l ow maternal education. No such association was evident among Arabs. Fo llowing logistic regression analysis, low maternal age and low socioec onomic status, but not ethnicity, were significantly associated with U DI as compared to the non-UDI infants. In comparison to non-UDI, UDI w as significantly more prevalent during the cold season. UDI incidence has apparently been stable over the past 15 years. Demographic risk fa ctors are similar to those reported from other communities, and ethnic ity is possibly mediated through those factors.