The “Back to Sleep” campaign, which the United States adopted in 1994, was one of the main causes for the reduction of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) incidence country-wide. However, to its praise, the state of California registered a drop in SIDS cases even before the campaign was launched. The number of syndrome cases have been considerably dropping for 14 years, although they remained to a certain level between 2002 and 2004.

The new research, led by Dr. Ruey-Kang R. Chang, at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in California, analyzed some 6,303 files of SIDS cases, which were registered in the state between 1989 and 2004, and found that a decreasing trend in SIDS incidence existed even before 1994. At that time, health officials cautioned parents to put babies to sleep on their back, as medical research had showed that sleeping on their bellies increased the risks of children dying over night.

 

The study also proved that African-American children are more likely to die because of SIDS than any other ethnic or racial group, with Pacific Islanders showing the lowest risk. In addition, the levels of SIDS awareness in parents are crucial for their baby's chances of survival, doctors say.

 

After analyzing the files, the team found that the incidence of the syndrome had decreased from 2.12 per a thousand births – the level it had in California around 1989 – to 0.31 per thousand in 2002. This trend remained the same until 2004, when the study stopped, and the researchers say that, most likely, the rate is still the same to this day.

 

They drew attention to the fact that more comprehensive public health policies are required, if the current number of SIDS cases is to be further lowered. "Clinicians and policymakers should be aware of these changes, and more research effort is needed to identify public health strategies that can further prevent SIDS," Chang told Reuters.