Sudden unexpected infant death in Jordan and the home environment.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal common practice for infant sleep care and the home environment, in order to explore the major risk factors associated with sudden unexpected infant death in Jordan.

Methods: Data were collected via semi-structured questionnaire interview to investigate the sociodemographic features, infant sleep practices and home environments. The sample included 604 mothers with infants <1 year old. Descriptive statistics were generated.

Results: Sleep practices were identified as leading factors in unexpected infant death. They included infant head covering (84%), heavy bedding with multiple quilts (81%) or blankets (67%), and co-bedding (66%). Environmental risk factors included high incidence of smoking, exposure to toxic solid fuel heaters during winter and inadequate room ventilation.

Conclusion: Factors leading to unexpected infant death were high in Jordan. Unsafe infant sleeping practices and poor environmental factors put infants at high risk of sudden death. Lack of awareness of risk factors increases the risk.