Knowledge of and recommendations for infant safe sleeping among primary health care paediatricians in Split-Dalmatia, Dubrovnik-Neretva and Bjelovar-Bilogora Counties

Abstract

Aim: To assess the knowledge about risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) among primary health care paediatricians(PHCP) in the Split-Dalmatia County (SDC), Dubrovnik-Neretva County (DNC) and Bjelovar-Bilogora County (BBC).Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2018 and included PHCPs from SDC,DNC and BBC. Paediatricians were sent a questionnaire with 18 questions on their attitudes about sleep and breastfeeding communicatedto parents of their patients, and on their knowledge about SIDS.Results: The analysis included 29 questionnaires received from PHCPs, most of them aged >55. The majority of paediatricians (72%)reported they routinely talked to parents of their patients about safe sleeping. All PHCPs advised parents to put infants to sleep in acradle in their bedroom; 72% of PHCPs advised putting infants to sleep on his/her back and the rest advised to do it on his/her side.More than half (52%) of PHCPs considered that the risk of SIDS was not increased by father’s smoking habit or exposure to maternaltobacco smoke in pregnancy, and 38% believed that neither mother’s smoking habit increased that risk. The majority (76%) of PHCPsdid not know that formula feeding significantly increased the risk of SIDS. Half of the study paediatricians correctly considered mother-infant bed-sharing to be associated with longer breastfeeding.Conclusion: Study results revealed the knowledge of PHCPs about risk factors for SIDS to be inadequate. As the majority of paediatriciansregularly talked to infant parents about safe sleeping, it is of utmost importance for them to be informed on the latest recommendationsin the field.Key words: SUDDEN INFANT DEATH; PRIMARY HEALTH CARE; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES; RISK FACTORS