Citation

Zoucha R, Walters CA, Colbert AM, Carlins E, Smith E. Public Health Nurs. 2015; 33(3): 206-213.

Affiliation

Cribs for Kids, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/phn.12235

PMID

26443932

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Explore the cultural influences of safe sleep practices by African-American caregivers of children under 2 years old. Explore the role of health care professionals in promoting safe sleep. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A focused ethnography was used to understand the contextual cultural meaning and experiences of safe sleep practices of African-American caregivers of children under 2 years. Nineteen African-Americans participated in this study. MEASURES: Demographic data were collected and semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals and small groups. Saturation of the data occurred after 17 interviews. Data were analyzed using Leininger's four Phases of qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS: (Themes): (1) The informants expressed both accurate and inaccurate knowledge of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and safe sleep practices influenced by personal experiences, hospital education, family, extended family and television; (2) Sleeping with infants and children was viewed as a cultural caring behavior promoting comfort, closeness and protection for infants, children, parents and caregivers; (3) The informants want and are seeking collaboration with nurses and health care professionals who are viewed as important in promoting accurate information about SIDS and safe sleep practices.

CONCLUSION: The role of the nurse can impact accurate outcomes about SIDS and safe sleep practices.

Language: en