Exploring Gaps in Maternal Knowledge Regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Its Risk Factors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v17i01.004Abstract
Background: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant mortality. Understanding maternal knowledge and attitudes towards SIDS is essential for prevention. This study aims to explore gaps in maternal knowledge regarding SIDS and its associated risk factors among mothers in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory design was employed, involving 135 mothers of infants under one year. Data was gathered over the course of one month, beginning in January 2025, through a structured questionnaire that evaluated knowledge and attitudes regarding SIDS. Results: Most mothers (74.1%) recognised the definition of SIDS, yet only 58.5% identified the highest risk age. Knowledge of preventive practices was low, with only 23.7% understanding the role of pacifiers. A significant proportion (65.2%) acknowledged smoking around infants as a risk factor. Statistical analysis revealed that higher educational attainment and maternal age positively correlated with better knowledge and attitudes towards SIDS prevention. Conclusion: There is a critical gap in maternal knowledge regarding SIDS prevention despite high awareness of the syndrome. Targeted educational interventions are necessary to enhance understanding and promote safe sleep practices among mothers.
Keywords:
Educational Interventions, Maternal Knowledge, Prevention, Risk Factors, Sudden Infant Death SyndromeDownloads
References
Abd Ali, A. M., & Musihb, Z. S. (2024). Mothers’ practices in prevention of sudden infant death syndrome in Holy Kerbala City. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 22(1), 75-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/irj.22.1.1619.4
Alanezi, S. L., Almusalam, Y. A., & Afify, A. A. (2023). Awareness of sudden infant death syndrome and its associated risk factors among Saudi mothers attending well-baby clinics at PHC, PSMMC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 12(8), 1531-1539. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1768_22
Algwaiz, A. F., Almutairi, A. M., Alnatheer, A. M., Alrubaysh, M. A., Alolaiwi, O., & Alqahtani, M. (2021). Knowledge assessment of correct infant sleep practices and sudden infant death syndrome among mothers. Cureus, 13(12). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.20510
Alzahrani, R. M., Algethami, N. E., Alharbi, A., Alharbi, N., Abbas, R., Alqthami, L. M., ... & Aljaid, M. (2020). Awareness of sudden infant death syndrome among Saudi Arabian women in 2019: a cross-sectional study. Cureus, 12(8). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9768
Anselmo, M. G., Lodi, J. C., Milagres, C. S., Cressoni, V. D., Mendes, K. L. C., & de Fátima Possobon, R. (2023). Factors associated with mothers' knowledge about sudden infant death syndrome. O Mundo da Saúde, 47. https://doi.org/10.15343/0104-7809.202347e11052021P
Antony, R. K., & Saldanha, S. J. (2023). Knowledge and self-reported practice of postnatal mothers on sudden infant death syndrome Prevention: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU, 13(03), 410-415 https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1757732
Badke, C. M., Tanz, R. R., Sanguino, S. M., & Unti, S. M. (2018). Unsafe Despite the Culture of Safety: Sleep Environments of Hospitalized Infants. Pediatrics, 141 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.141.1MA2.175
Carlin, R. F., & Moon, R. Y. (2017). Risk factors, protective factors, and current recommendations to reduce sudden infant death syndrome: A review. JAMA Pediatrics, 171(2), 175-180. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.3345
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2017). Sudden unexpected infant death and sudden infant death syndrome: Data and statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.html . Accessed on 12th June, 2023.
Dowling, A., Garratt, S., & Manias, E. (2025). Experiences and perceptions of medication management communication during transitions of care for residents in aged care homes and their caregivers: A qualitative meta‐synthesis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 34(4), 1432-1451. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17438
Elbilgahy, A. A., Abusaad, F. E., Abd El-mouty, S. M., El-Sheikh, O. Y., & Fathy, A. A. (2019). Safe sleep intervention program for prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing, 6(1), 461-470. Retrieved from: https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Safe%20Sleep%20Intervention%20Program-1698.pdf. Accessed on 10th June, 2023.
Gemble, A., Hubert, C., Borsa-Dorion, A., Dessaint, C., Albuisson, E., & Hascoet, J. M. (2020). Knowledge assessment of sudden infant death syndrome risk factors in expectant mothers: A prospective monocentric descriptive study. Archives de Pédiatrie, 27(1), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2019.10.012
Goldberg, N., Rodriguez-Prado, Y., Tillery, R., & Chua, C. (2018). Sudden infant death syndrome: a review. Pediatric Annals, 47(3), e118-e123. https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20180221-03
Hajian, M., Tabasizadeh, H., Mohamadi, E., Daliri, S., & Moayyed, M. E. (2024). Evaluation of mothers’ knowledge about infant sudden death syndrome and its risk factors. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 13(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1625_22
Miladinia, M., Baraz, S., & Mousavi Nouri, E. (2015). Sudden infant death syndrome: Risk factors and the relationship between them. International Journal of Pediatrics, 3(6.2), 1103-1110. https://doi.org/10.22038/ijp.2015.5724
Mohamed, E., Abusaad, F., & El-agamy, O. (2021). Assessment of Mothers’ knowledge and Practices about the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome. Mansoura Nursing Journal, 8(1), 115-130. Retrieved from: https://mnj.journals.ekb.eg/article_179808_27448f615c9d890d629087a626e3bba0.pdf. Accessed on 9th January, 2023.
Moon, R. Y., & Hauck, F. R. (2016). SIDS Risk: it's more than just the sleep environment. Pediatrics, 137(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-3665
Moon, R. Y., Darnall, R. A., Feldman-Winter, L., Goodstein, M. H., Hauck, F. R., & Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (2016). SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths: Evidence base for 2016 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics, 138(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2940
Oden, R. P., Joyner, B. L., Ajao, T. I., & Moon, R. Y. (2010). Factors influencing African American mothers’ decisions about sleep position: A qualitative study. Journal of the National Medical Association, 102(10), 870-880. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0027-9684(15)30705-7
Office for National Statistics (ONS). (2023). Unexplained deaths in infancy, England and Wales: 2021. ONS website: statistical bulletin. Retrieved from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/unexplaineddeathsininfancyenglandandwales/2021. Accessed on 15th June, 2023.
Oliveira, A. M. D. F., Andrade, P. R. D., Pinheiro, E. M., Avelar, A. F. M., Costa, P., & Belela-Anacleto, A. S. C. (2020). Risk and protective factors for sudden infant death syndrome. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0458
Park, S., Han, J. H., Hwang, J., Yon, D. K., Lee, S. W., Kim, J. H., ... & Smith, L. (2022). The global burden of sudden infant death syndrome from 1990 to 2019: A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 115(11), 735-744. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcac093
Pease, A., Lambert, B., Ingram, J., Bradley, N., Fleming, P., Blair, P. S., & Farr, M. (2025). Baby sleep project protocol: A realist evaluation of an intervention to reduce preventable infant mortality. BMJ Open, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091414
Psaila, K., Foster, J. P., Pulbrook, N., & Jeffery, H. E. (2017). Infant pacifiers for reduction in risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011147.pub2
Qasim, M. M., & Alrabaty, A. A. (2017). Infant sleep practice and sleep environment in Erbil city. Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal, 16(3). Retrieved from: https://ipmj.org/article_146017_dec0e00521b33ccb14c33a491229c521.pdf. Accessed on 18th February, 2023.
Rollins, J. A. (2017). Sharing a Room: Updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatric Nursing, 43(1), 7–14. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/110046441/Sharing_a_Room_Updated_Recommendations_for_a_Safe_Infant_Sleeping_Environment?uc-sb-sw=73690957#loswp-work-container. Accessed on 20th January, 2023.
Ruiz-Botia, I., Cassanello-Peñarroya, P., Díez-Izquierdo, A., Martínez-Sánchez, J. M., & Balaguer-Santamaria, A. (2020). Sudden infant death syndrome: Do the parents follow the recommendations? Anales de Pediatría (English Edition), 92(4), 222-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpede.2019.06.009
Saasa, K., Patel, M. S. S., & Phillips, S. (2025). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: an infantile death-bed misadventure. Medical Journal of Zambia, 52(1), 108-117. https://doi.org/10.55320/mjz.52.1.627
Shouli, K. M., Shouli, M. M., Aqtam, I. F., & Al-Qoroum, S. M. (2025). Assessing Mothers' Knowledge and Awareness toward Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Maternal and Child Health Clinics of the Ministry of Health in Northwest Bank–Palestine. Palestinian Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal, 9999(9999), Retrieved from: https://journals.najah.edu/media/journals/full_texts/1501_hi7HLRc.pdf. Accessed on 17th July, 2023.
Spinelli, J., Collins‐Praino, L., Van Den Heuvel, C., & Byard, R. W. (2017). Evolution and significance of the triple risk model in sudden infant death syndrome. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 53(2), 112-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13429
Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (2016). SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths: Updated 2016 recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics. 138(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2938
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.