Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Hammig, Bart

Committee Member

Gray, Laura

Abstract

Arkansas has one of the highest Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) rates in the nation, with 173.6 deaths for every 100,000 live births (CDC, 2024). This is much higher than the national rate, indicating a significant need for prevention education. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is an umbrella term used to categorize Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), unknown death causes, and accidental suffocation in bed. SUID rate reduction can be achieved by following infant-safe sleeping guidelines, which include crib use, flat and firm mattresses, no blankets, and putting babies on their backs. In this proposed study, health care professionals across Arkansas will be interviewed on their experience with SUID. The participants will exclusively be people working with expecting mothers and infants, and they will be questioned on how they discuss SUID, what the barriers to SUID education are, what their role is in preventing SUID, as well as what they think of current SUID prevention programs. Their insight will be analyzed for similarities and compiled into a report to aid in the development of infant safe sleep programs in Arkansas.

Keywords

infant mortality; Sudden Unexpected Infant Death; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; Arkansas; healthcare perspectives

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