Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 501-533). Also available on the Internet.

Background: In the United States, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in children less than one year old, and the third leading case of death in infants. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended to place infants supine for sleep, and the SIDS rate declined by 50%. Despite these efforts, the SIDS rate has plateaued since 2001. With the growing number of advanced practices nurses (APN) providing care to pregnant women and infants, APNs are in a position to educate new parents on preventing SIDS using the 2011 AAP safe sleep recommendations. Yet, knowledge, attitudes, and current practices of APNs regarding SIDS risk reduction are unknown in the State of Arizona. Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to assess the attitudes, knowledge, and current practices of APNs regarding risk reduction strategies. Methods: This study was a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Target study participants included APNs that provided care to pregnant women and/or infants up to 12 months old. The study was conducted in the State of Arizona through online surveys using the Qualtrics software. The study participants' knowledge, attitudes, and current practices were assessed using an adapted validated survey tool that included multiple choice items and responses using Likert scales. Results: Twenty-three APNs completed the survey. Knowledge about SIDs was average, with a mean score of 74% correct. Although most APNs felt it was important to educate parents about SIDS, only three-quarters of APNs provided verbal education to parents, and less than half of participants provided written information to parents. To decrease the SIDS rate, it is necessary for APNs to gain more knowledge about current safe sleep recommendations.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the devastating condition in which an infant suddenly and unexplainably passes away over the course of sleeping. This is an unfortunate situation that many new parents dread every night as they lay their newborns to rest. SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants aged from one month to one year, and the medical world still does not fully understand what causes it. However, the triple-risk theory is a new model that sets out to explain the pathology of this syndrome through the combination of genetic vulnerabilities, a critical time period, and external stressors. This thesis summarizes the current research in the realm of the central nervous system (specifically the cerebellum and brainstem) as a means of evaluating the validity of this new model. The analyzed literature concentrated on a few important topics, such as proven risk factors, evidence of homeostatic abnormalities, and significant associations with the occurrence of SIDS. It was found that there was central nervous system dysfunction on most levels, including: damaged Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, malformations of the human choroid plexus, decreased neuropeptide signaling (both orexin and brain-derived neurotrophic factors), malformations of the amino acid neurotransmitters (both excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA), and finally significant reductions in the receptor density and activity of the serotonin system. These irregularities were associated, in most studies, with either the prone sleeping position or known maternal nicotine use during pregnancy. In conclusion, the triple-risk model is currently the most accurate description of SIDS, given its reasonable three criteria and present-day research. This is because the studies, and real-life victims, were all concentrated within the critical time period of transition from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life, satisfying the first element of timing. The list of central nervous system dysfunctions found in SIDS cases was compelling enough to fulfill the second factor of inherent vulnerability. Finally, the associations between low oxygen rebreathing and the prone sleep position, or over-heating and tight swaddling displayed a strong relationship with the occurrence of SIDS and satisfied the third and final event, which was the induction of an exogenous stressor. These three factors of the triple-risk model allow for the variations in victim pathology, but still offers a compelling and coherent understanding of the sudden infant death syndrome.

No description available.

Recent studies have shown that the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is related to abnormal control of respiration (Ischemic degeneration of the brainstem may play an important role in altered respiratory control leading to death). In our studies we have examined brainstem ganglioside compositions in samples derived from SIDS victims and appropriate controls. Gangliosides are acidic glycosphingolipids that contain sialic acid. The high concentration of gangliosides in the central nervous system (CNS) implies that these lipids play an important role in CNS function. Some studies have indicated that gangliosides may function as receptor site determinants or modifiers, and in neural transmission. In our studies we used the Tettamanti, et al methodology to extract gangliosides, and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and laser densitometry techniques for ganglioside analysis. The results of these analyses are being employed to establish lipid profile patterns to determine if there are significant variations in these lipid patterns between SIDS and control groups.

Includes bibliographic references. / 2 v. : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / A detailed description of possible aetiological mechanisms in sudden infant death syndrome and reports original work investigating a variety of causal mechanisms and pathological markers. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Paediatrics, 1994?

M.A. (Psychology) / Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the most prevalent cause of death in infants between one and twelve months of age. Most deaths attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome occur between 1 and 4 months of age. There is a marked decrease after this age in the number of deaths classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is usually defined as the sudden death of any infant usually during sleep which is unexpected by history and in which a thorough postmortem examination tails to demonstrate an adequate cause tor death (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, 1989) • Epidemiologic, pathologic and physiologic data suggest the mechanism ot Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is complex, characterized by interaction at many levels ot the neural axis, between the organism and the environment and spanning both pre- and post-natal lite. Observations suggest that the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome infant has experienced adverse influences prenatally Which may make him peculiarly vulnerable to postnatal environmental stress (Valdes Dapena, 1988). However, the specific nature and cause of this condition continues to elude both scientists and practitioners. In the last few years research has shed some light on various epidemiologic aspects of the problem, on pathologic anatomy and on clinical issues such as the relative importance of spontaneous, prolonged, idiopathic apnea. Some Sudden Infant Death Syndrome victims showed evidence of neonatal brain dysfunction, including abnormalities in respiration, feeding and temperature regulation and have been shown to have pathologic abnormalities consistent with chronic hypoxia (Kelly' Shannon, 1982). Once again, however, the research appears not to be conclusive, leaving many unanswered questions...

No description available.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a serious public health issue in this country and a major contributor to infant mortality in African American populations. African Americans have one of the highest rates of SIDS, some of which is due to increased risk factors for SIDS, such as prone sleeping and bed-sharing, as well as a lack of adherence to the SIDS risk reducing recommendations. Little is understood about this lack of adherence in the African American population or how to effectively address it but some research suggests a link between parental health beliefs of SIDS and the risk reducing recommendations and the implementation of these recommendations. This study used quantitative methods to gather data about the health beliefs and perceptions of SIDS among African American women living in Service Planning Area (SPA) Six of Los Angeles County to better understand the link between beliefs about SIDS and how this relates to implementation of the safe infant sleeping recommendations, specifically bed-sharing and prone sleeping. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect data using the Health Belief Model and several of its concepts as a guiding framework to assist with the construction of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed electronically through the survey software program, Survey Monkey and analyzed using statistical software, SPSS. Exploratory factor analysis found the questionnaire reliable and valid upon the removal of four items, including the construct of cues to action. The new 19-item questionnaire suggested that the women felt that SIDS was a big problem but didn't feel as susceptible. There was also a clear confusion about prone sleeping position. Overall, the data suggests a need for tailored educational campaigns in African American communities to increase awareness of and susceptibility to SIDS and stressing the benefits of supine sleeping position.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2003. / Title from title screen (viewed 7 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.