Prevalence and determinants of prone sleeping position in infants: Resultsfrom two cross-sectional studies on risk factors for SIDS in Germany

The authors investigated whether there was a decline in infants sleeping pr one and other modifiable risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SID S) in Germany, where, as in some other countries, no nationwide interventio n campaign against the prone sleeping position had been initiated. Data wer e obtained from parents by mailed questionnaires in two cross-sectional stu dies in 1991 (n = 3,330) and 1995 (n = 3,124). Prevalence of prone sleeping decreased from 37.6% to 8.7% (p < 0.05) in the German population and from 44.1% to 32.0% (p < 0.05) in the Turkish immigrant population. Parents who laid their infants prone in 1995 were less likely to follow advice from phy sicians, public media, and other parents (relative risks < 0.5, p < 0.05) a nd were more likely to have a low educational level, to be <20 years old, t o be single parents, to have two or more children, to be raised in West Ger many, or to be of Turkish ethnicity, Although the information on prone slee ping being a risk factor for SIDS became known among the population, these data suggest that subgroup-specific public intervention campaigns may be ne eded to reduce the prevalence of prone sleeping even further in those count ries where no nationwide campaign has been initiated.