Knowledge about sudden infant death syndrome prevention among postpartum women in Southern Brazil, 2019: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To assess knowledge on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) prevention among postpartum women who received prenatal care in public and private services in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2019.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with postpartum women who gave birth in that municipality in 2019; the outcome was the indication of incorrect sleeping position (side/supine position) to prevent SIDS; the chi-square test was used to compare proportions between those who underwent prenatal care in public and private services.

Results: Among all 2,195 postpartum women, 67.7% (95%CI 65.7;69.6) were unaware of the position that prevents SIDS, 71.6% were public care service users; 77.8% of them feared choking/suffocation; 1.9% were informed about SIDS during prenatal care; doctors/nurses (70.5%) and grandmothers (65.1%) were influential regarding the baby's sleeping position.

Conclusion: Most postpartum women were unaware of the sleeping position that prevents SIDS, especially those receiving care in the public sector; in general, this subject is not discussed in prenatal care.

Main results: Two out of three mothers believed the newborn should sleep in the side or prone position, which does not prevent but rather facilitates sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); lack of knowledge was significantly greater when prenatal care took place in public services.

Implications for services: SIDS should be addressed in prenatal care. Guidance from a doctor/nurse during consultations can be essential for mothers to change their mind and adopt a safe sleeping position (supine position) for their child.

Perspectives: SIDS prevention campaigns are relevant in the context of prenatal care, as is conducting research that aims to evaluate potential impacts of interventions on the correct sleeping position for babies.