Practices and Awareness Regarding an Infant’s Sleep Environment among Japanese Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Ayako Himemiya-Hakucho (), Ayumi Taketani, Aoi Nakagawa, Hiroki Sakai, Azumi Shigemoto and Izumi Takase
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Ayako Himemiya-Hakucho: Department of Legal Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
Ayumi Taketani: Undergraduate Courses of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
Aoi Nakagawa: Department of Legal Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
Hiroki Sakai: Department of Legal Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
Azumi Shigemoto: Department of Legal Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
Izumi Takase: Department of Legal Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Preventing sudden, unexpected infant death related to sleep, especially suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome, remains challenging globally. To evaluate factors associated with an unsafe sleep environment (SE) for infants in Japan, this cross-sectional study investigated the current status of practices and awareness among caregivers about a safe SE. Two hundred and fifty-four caregivers of infants in Yamaguchi Prefecture participated. Among the caregivers, 96.0% could not thoroughly practice a safe SE, although 65.0% had knowledge about a safe SE. More unsafe SE practices were significantly associated with 8- to 11-month-old infants than with 0- to 3-month-old infants, using the same practice as for an older child than with accessing information or a familiar person than with mass media as the most useful source of information. The differences in having knowledge were not associated with their practice. Many caregivers obtained information about an infant’s SE from mass media and a familiar person. They preferred education via a face-to-face method by medical experts to raise awareness about a safe SE. Thus, efforts need to be developed in Japan in which experts who directly attend to caregivers can truly educate them to ensure that caregivers are continuously aware of the importance of an SE.

Keywords: awareness; education; knowledge; practice; safe sleep environment; sudden unexpected infant death; suffocation; sudden infant death syndrome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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