Nurses' and paediatricians' knowledge about infant sleeping positions and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to determine nurses' and paediatricians' knowledge regarding the sleeping positions and environment of infants. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted at 18 randomly selected hospitals in eight different cities in Turkey. There were 1,156 participants in the study (252 physicians and 904 nurses). The data were collected by means of a questionnaire form developed by the investigators. Data analysis included percentage and chi-square analyses. Results: Among the nurses, 74.1% were between the ages of 21 and 35, 32.0% had a bachelor's degree, 65.0% had job experience of six years or more. Among the paediatricians, 69.0% were between the ages of 21 and 35; 42.5% had job experience of six years or more. 88.8% of the nurses said that the mother should share same room with the infant but in a separate bed. Over two-thirds of the nurses said that a pillow should not be used when an infant was asleep, and 98.0% would not cover an infant's face. 86.5% of the paediatricians said that the mother could share same room with the infant but in a separate bed. 76.2% of the paediatricians said that they would not use a pillow when the infant were asleep, and 97.2% would not cover an infant's face. Most nurses and physicians responded that infants of 0-6 months of age slept on their sides during the daytime, in the nighttime, when left alone in a room, and after feeding. Conclusions: The results showed that physicians and nurses were not sufficiently knowledgeable about infant sleeping positions; however, they had sufficient knowledge about the risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome. The education of both nurses and physicians working in pediatric wards about the risk factors of SIDS may decrease SIDS deaths in Turkey.