scholarly journals Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Safe Sleep on Twitter: Analysis of Influences and Themes to Guide Health Promotion Efforts

10.2196/10435 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. e10435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A Pretorius ◽  
Michael Mackert ◽  
Gary B Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Safe Sleep ◽  
Twitter Analysis

scholarly journals Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Safe Sleep on Twitter: Analysis of Influences and Themes to Guide Health Promotion Efforts (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A Pretorius ◽  
Michael Mackert ◽  
Gary B Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
False Information ◽  
Safe Sleep ◽  
Infant Loss

BACKGROUND In the United States, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in infants aged 1 month to 1 year. Approximately 3500 infants die from SIDS and sleep-related reasons on a yearly basis. Unintentional sleep-related deaths and bed sharing, a known risk factor for SIDS, are on the rise. Furthermore, ethnic disparities exist among those most affected by SIDS. Despite public health campaigns, infant mortality persists. Given the popularity of social media, understanding social media conversations around SIDS and safe sleep may assist the medical and public health communities with information needed to spread, reinforce, or counteract false information regarding SIDS and safe sleep. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to investigate the social media conversation around SIDS and safe sleep to understand the possible influences and guide health promotion efforts and public health research as well as enable health professionals to engage in directed communication regarding this topic. METHODS We used textual analytics to identify topics and extract meanings contained in unstructured textual data. Twitter messages were captured during September, October, and November in 2017. Tweets and retweets were collected using NUVI software in conjunction with Twitter’s search API using the keywords: “sids,” “infant death syndrome,” “sudden infant death syndrome,” and “safe sleep.” This returned a total of 41,358 messages, which were analyzed using text mining and social media monitoring software. RESULTS Multiple themes were identified, including recommendations for safe sleep to prevent SIDS, safe sleep devices, the potential causes of SIDS, and how breastfeeding reduces SIDS. Compared with September and November, more personal and specific stories of infant loss were demonstrated in October (Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month). The top influencers were news organizations, universities, and health-related organizations. CONCLUSIONS We identified valuable topics discussed and shared on Twitter regarding SIDS and safe sleep. The study results highlight the contradicting information a subset of the population is exposed to regarding SIDS and the continued controversy over vaccines. In addition, this analysis emphasizes the lack of public health organizations’ presence on Twitter compared with the influence of universities and news media organizations. The results also demonstrate the prevalence of safe sleep products that are embedded in safe sleep messaging. These findings can assist providers in speaking about relevant topics when engaging in conversations about the prevention of SIDS and the promotion of safe sleep. Furthermore, public health agencies and advocates should utilize social media and Twitter to better communicate accurate health information as well as continue to combat the spread of false information.

Safe Sleep Practices and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Risk Reduction

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1044-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aja J. Fowler ◽  
Patricia W. Evans ◽  
Jason M. Etchegaray ◽  
Allison Ottenbacher ◽  
Cody Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Safe Sleep

scholarly journals Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Definition Evolution, Epidemiology and Risk Factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalya N. Korableva
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Child Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Safe Sleep ◽  
Literature Overview ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
Different Levels

The literature overview about the issues of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is presented in the article. The emphasis is on the evolution of the diagnosis definitions, incorrect use of the “synonym” term “sudden child death syndrome” in our country. Epidemiological characteristics of SIDS in countries with different levels of per capita income are presented. Modern view on the theories of the syndrome onset is analyzed. Risk factors are analyzed from the position of influence and change, i.e. possible modification to affect the syndrome incident that is crucial for every pediatrician. SIDS protective factors as the basis of primary prevention are discussed. The algorithm (ROSTOK rule) for organizing safe sleep space for children to reduce the risks of infant death associated with sleep is presented. This algorithm is proposed to be used in educational programs for pregnant women and parents of infants.

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