Comparison of Infant Sleep Practices in African–American and US Hispanic Families: Implications for Sleep-Related Infant Death

Abstract

African–American and Hispanic families share similar socioeconomic profiles. Hispanic rates of sleep-related infant death are four times lower than African–American rates. We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-modal (surveys, qualitative interviews) study to compare infant care practices that impact risk for sleep-related infant death in African–American and Hispanic families. We surveyed 422 African–American and 90 Hispanic mothers. Eighty-three African–American and six Hispanic mothers participated in qualitative interviews. African–American infants were more likely to be placed prone (p < 0.001), share the bed with the parent (p < 0.001), and to be exposed to smoke (p < 0.001). Hispanic women were more likely to breastfeed (p