Prevalence of self-reported shaking and smothering and their associations with co-sleeping among 4-month-old infants in Japan

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 Jun;11(6):6485-93. doi: 10.3390/ijerph110606485.

Abstract

Few studies have investigated the prevalence of shaking and smothering and whether they are associated with co-sleeping. In Japan, co-sleeping is common during infancy and early childhood. This study investigates the prevalence of shaking and smothering and their associations with co-sleeping among 4-month-old infants in Japan. A questionnaire was administered to mothers who participated in a 4-month health checkup program in Kamagaya City in Japan (n = 1307; valid response rate, 82%). The questionnaire investigated the frequency of self-reported shaking and smothering during the past one month, co-sleeping status, and living arrangements with grandparents, in addition to traditional risk factors such as stress due to crying. Associations between co-sleeping and self-reported shaking or smothering were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of self-reported shaking and smothering at least one time during the past one month was 3.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.4%-4.3%) and 2.4% (95% CI, 1.5%-3.2%), respectively. Co-sleeping was marginally associated with the amount of crying and not associated with stress due to crying. Further, co-sleeping was not associated with either self-reported shaking or smothering, although stress due to crying showed strong association with shaking and smothering. Co-sleeping was not a risk factor for shaking and smothering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asphyxia / epidemiology*
  • Beds
  • Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Parenting*
  • Self Report
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Sleep*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires