SIDS Deaths By Race And Ethnicity 1995-2001

• Introduction
• Reducing the Risk Even More
• Information on SIDS Risk Reduction in Minority Communities

Introduction

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history (Willinger et al., 1991).

After the first month of life, SIDS is the leading cause of death among all racial and ethnic groups, representing nearly one-third of all deaths in babies between 1 month and 1 year of age.

Since the Back to Sleep Campaign was first launched in 1994, the rate of SIDS deaths has decreased dramatically. However, there are still significant differences in the SIDS rates among racial and ethnic minorities. SIDS rates are highest for African Americans and American Indians and lowest for Asians and Hispanics. As shown in Table 1, in 2001, the rate of SIDS among African Americans was more than twice that of Whites, and more than three times greater among American Indians than Whites. Further reductions in the number of SIDS deaths, particularly among African Americans and American Indians, will greatly lower the overall infant mortality rate.

Notes:
* Last year with complete and final data.
** Includes races other than Blacks and Whites.
*** Includes Aleuts and Eskimos.
+ Includes Cuban and other and unknown Hispanic.
++ Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision; based on fewer than 20 deaths in the numerator.

The linked birth/death data set is from birth and infant death certificates registered in all States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. Race is based on birth certificate data. Race and Hispanic origin of mother are reported as separate items on the birth certificates and, therefore, a mother of Hispanic origin can be of any race.

1, 2, 3 MacDorman and Atkinson, 1998a, 1998b, 1999.
4 Mathews, Curtin, and MacDorman, 2000.
5 Mathews, MacDorman, and Menacker, 2002.
6 Mathews, Menacker, and MacDorman, 2002.
7 Mathews, Menacker, and MacDorman, 2003.

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Reducing the Risk Even More

For African Americans, "tummy" sleeping is a significant risk factor for SIDS (Hauck et al., 2003). To promote back sleeping in this community, the Back to Sleep Campaign partners joined with the National Black Child Development Institute and other historically Black organizations to develop materials for a new initiative to reduce SIDS in African-American communities.

Many local SIDS/infant death and fetal and infant mortality review programs that serve minority populations have also developed special SIDS risk reduction materials. Check with your local health department to learn about these programs in your community.

Partners in Back to Sleep Campaign Outreach to Underserved Populations

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• Chi Eta Phi Sorority
• Chicago Department of Public Health
• Congress of National Black Churches
• District of Columbia Department of Health
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• National Black Child Development Institute
• National Coalition of 100 Black Women
• National Medical Association
• National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters
• Pampers Parenting Institute
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

The Back to Sleep Campaign is sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the SIDS Alliance, and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs.

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SIDS Risk Reduction in Minority Communities

National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Infant Death Resource Center (NSIDRC)
8280 Greensboro Drive
Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: (866) 866-7437; (703) 821-8955
Fax: (703) 821-2098
E-mail: sids@circlesolutions.com
www.sidscenter.org

National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) SIDS/ID Component
Georgetown University Child Development Center
University Box 571485
Washington, DC 20007-3935
Phone: (800) 788-2066; (202) 687-5387
Fax: (202) 687-8899
E-mail: cultural@gunet.georgetown.edu
www.gucdc.georgetown.edu/nccc

National SIDS and Infant Death Program Support Center
Kathleen Graham, Director
1314 Bedford Avenue
Suite 210
Baltimore, MD 21208
Phone: (410) 415-6628; (800) 638-7437
Fax: (410) 415-5093
E-mail: Kathleen.graham@firstcandle.org
www.firstcandle.org/health/health_human.html

National SIDS & Infant Death Project IMPACT
8280 Greensboro Drive
Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: (703) 902-1260; (800) 930-7437
Fax: (703) 902-1320
E-mail: lcooper@sidsprojectimpact.com
www.sidsprojectimpact.com

Information on the Back to Sleep Campaign
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Back to Sleep Campaign
31 Center Drive, Room 2A32
Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
Public Information: (301) 496-5133
Fax: (301) 496-7101
www.nichd.nih.gov
To order campaign materials, call toll-free: (800) 505-CRIB (2742)

To order single copies of materials for African Americans, phone toll-free: (800) 370-2943.

These materials also may be ordered online.

To request multiple copies of the new Resource Kit for Reducing the Risk of SIDS in African-American Communities, phone toll-free: (800) 505-CRIB (2742).

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
Metro IV Building
3311 Toledo Road
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Phone: (301) 458-4636
www.cdc.gov/nchs

Cited References

Hauck FR, Herman SM, Donovan M, et al. "Sleep Environment and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in an Urban Population: The Chicago Infant Mortality Study." Pediatrics 2003; (111): 1207-1214.

MacDorman MF, Atkinson JO. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set-1995 Period Data." Monthly Vital Statistics Report (46)6, supp. 2. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. February 26, 1998a.

MacDorman MF, Atkinson JO. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the 1996 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set." Monthly Vital Statistics Report (46)12, supp. 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. August 27, 1998b.

MacDorman MF, Atkinson JO. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the 1997 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set." National Vital Statistics Reports (47)23. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. July 30, 1999.

Mathews TJ, Curtin SC, MacDorman MF. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the 1998 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set." National Vital Statistics Reports (48)12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. July 20, 2000.

Mathews TJ, MacDorman MF, Menacker F. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the 1999 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set." National Vital Statistics Reports (50)4. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. January 30, 2002.

Mathews TJ, Menacker F, MacDorman MF. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2000 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set." National Vital Statistics Reports (50)12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. August 28, 2002.

Mathews TJ, Menacker F, MacDorman MF. "Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2001 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set." National Vital Statistics Reports (52)2. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. September 15, 2003.

Willinger M, James LS, Catz C. "Defining the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Deliberations of an Expert Panel Convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development." Pediatric Pathology September-October 1991; 11(5): 677-84.

Other References

Hauck FR, Moore CM, Herman, et al. "The Contribution of Prone Sleeping Position to the Racial Disparity in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: The Chicago Infant Mortality Study." Pediatrics October 2002; 110(4):772-80.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health. From Cells to Selves. Targeting Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): A Strategic Plan. Rockville, (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 2001.

This publication was produced by the
National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center (NSIDRC)
8280 Greensboro Drive
Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: (866) 866-7437, (703) 821-8955
E-mail: sids@circlesolutions.com
www.sidscenter.org

The NSIDRC is funded under contract to Circle Solutions, Inc., with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This publication is not copyrighted; it may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. However, in accordance with accepted publishing standards, it is requested that proper credit be given to the source(s). The views in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agency.

Health Resources and Services Administration
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
SIDS/Infant Death Program
(301) 443-2115
www.hrsa.gov

Publication No. S148

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