A recent study from VCU and CHoR reveals that while infant mortality rates have decreased, sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) has been rising. Between 1999 and 2022, the nation’s infant mortality rate dropped by 24.2%, according to a study published in the JAMA Pediatrics. However, researchers found that SUID rates increased significantly by 11.8% from 2020 to 2022.
Dr. Elizabeth Wolf noted that prior CDC data until 2020 showed an increase specifically for Black infants, but this new study includes 2021 and 2022, revealing a broader issue affecting all infants.
The rise in SUID is linked to unsafe sleep positions (e.g., lying on their stomach instead of back), unsafe environments like adult beds or couches, prematurity, tobacco exposure, and poor feeding practices.
For parents, this means prioritizing safe sleep arrangements for infants, ensuring they lie on their backs, avoiding unsafe environments, promoting healthy habits, and checking in regularly to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Source: https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/vcu-study-reveals-alarming-rise-in-sudden-unexpected-infant-death