Prevention of neonatal and infant fatalities

PROBLEM: In 2001, a California law for Safe Surrender of newborns had not taken effect in Los Angeles County. 14 newborns were abandoned and 11 died; none were safely surrendered In 2010, ICAN’s Child Death Review Team... [ view full abstract ]

PROBLEM:

In 2001, a California law for Safe Surrender of newborns had not taken effect in Los Angeles County. 14 newborns were abandoned and 11 died; none were safely surrendered
In 2010, ICAN’s Child Death Review Team determined that an average of 70 infants had died each of the past 3 years from unsafe sleeping environments.

OBJECTIVE:

Reduce the number of newborn and infant fatalities from abandonment and unsafe sleeping.
METHOD:
Safe Surrender: LA County initiated a “No Shame, No Blame, No Names” campaign. Human services agencies, medical providers, community organizations, and local media carried this message throughout the county, particularly to pregnant women and those who might be concealing their pregnancies. All hospitals and Fire Departments were designated “Safe Surrender” sites. ICAN staff began documenting data on surrenders and abandonments, as well as profiles of mothers if information was available.
Safe Infant Sleeping: ICAN launched a 2 year multi-disciplinary and community campaign to prevent unexpected infant deaths related to co-sleeping and unsafe sleeping environments. The campaign was initiated with focus groups inclusive of parents in multiple racial, cultural and socio-economic levels
.
Spanish and English language pamphlets and posters were placed on buses and metro rails, radio ads, videos demonstrating safe sleeping practices, and Public Services Announcements were developed.

RESULTS:

The number of unsafe sleeping infant deaths declined from 70 in 2010 to 35 in 2014, and continues to show this decline in 2015.

The number of abandoned newborns declined from 14 in 2001 to 0 in 2014, with 11 Safe Surrenders. Since 2001, the total number of abandoned neonates: 73. The number of Safe Surrenders:142.

CONCLUSION: The number of infant deaths from abandonment and unsafe sleeping environments can be reduced through culturally relevant and multi-disciplinary messaging addressing key risk factors.

Materials, PSAs and reports will be shared.