The Health of Florida's Children and Youth

Home Table of Contents Prefix Goals Core Functions Health Indicators Appendices Next    Page | Topic Previous    Page | Topic Core Function 1 (continued) Benefits Public Education to Reduce Mortality from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Public health education and awareness saves health care dollars and more importantly can save lives. For instance, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) incidence has reduced dramatically in Florida. Florida mortality from SIDS decreased 42 percent between 1994 and 2001. This reduction began to occur after federal and state public education awareness drives on positioning babies on their back rather than on their stomach were initiated. However, significant disparities between black and white infants persist and education activities continue to be needed to address these disparities and to inform all new parents. If infants had died from SIDS at the same rate of 77 per 100,000 as in 1996, 76 more babies would have died in 1997, 90 in 1998, 94 in 1999, 107 in 2000 and 111 in 2001 from SIDS Figure 10: Florida Mortality from SIDS, Among Infants 1994 to 2001 Source: Florida Vital Statistics Annual Reports1994-2001, State of Florida Department of Health Note: A small number (1 or 2 in some years) die from SIDS after age 1 Next Page   Back to Top