Association Between Nurses’ Knowledge of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Their Practices in Infant Sleep Positioning and Parental Education

Abstract

Background: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) represents one of the leading causes of post-neonatal mortality worldwide, particularly during the first year of life. It is defined as the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant, typically occurring during sleep, and remains unexplained even after a thorough autopsy, death scene investigation, and review of the clinical history. Despite decades of research and global awareness campaigns, the precise etiology of SIDS remains unclear. However, a wide range of modifiable risk factors—such as prone sleeping, soft bedding, overheating, bed-sharing, and exposure to tobacco smoke—have been consistently identified in the literature. Nurses, especially those working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and pediatric wards, are at the frontline of infant care and play a critical role in implementing SIDS risk reduction strategies.

Objectives To investigate the association between nurses’ knowledge of SIDS and their practical application in sleep positioning of infants and parental education within neonatal care settings.

Methods and Results: A descriptive correlational study was conducted among 230 nurses across neonatal and pediatric units in Najaf. A structured questionnaire assessed nurses' knowledge on SIDS, their sleep positioning practices, and parental education habits. Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing Chi-square and Spearman correlation tests to explore relationships between variables.

Results: The majority of nurses (37.8%) had fair knowledge of SIDS. While 58.3% identified the supine position as safest, 21.3% believed lateral positioning was acceptable. Regarding education, 69.6% delivered oral sessions to parents, and 81.3% inquired about the infant’s sleep environment. Significant associations were found between knowledge levels and both sleep positioning practices (p=0.027) and parental education frequency(p=0.018). Conclusion Improved knowledge of SIDS among nurses is associated with safer sleep positioning practices and more consistent parental education. Enhancing training programs and reinforcing evidence-based guidelines can promote better adherence to SIDS risk reduction strategies.