Instructions from teaching hospital maternity wards to parents concerning the sleeping position of newborns

Abstract

The prone sleeping position has been causally linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This survey aimed to determine whether maternity hospitals in Brazil were promoting the prone sleeping position for newborns. Information was also collected on SIDS prevention messages. The study adopted a multicenter collaborative approach in hospitals with training in pediatrics, using questionnaires. Correctly completed questionnaires were received from 55 hospitals. The number of deliveries/year varied at the hospitals from 240 to 11,000 (median 2,750). The majority of hospitals encouraged the lateral (side) sleeping position in the normal care nurseries (44.4%) and at discharge (67%). In conclusion, the majority of hospitals surveyed are not promoting the supine sleeping position or any other intervention for SIDS prevention, although verbal information is provided to parents about breastfeeding (100%), immunization (100%), and smoking (85%).