NCJ Number
225306
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 32 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 1017-1025
Date Published
November 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of a shaken baby syndrome (SBS) prevention program in the United States.
Abstract
Results indicate that the majority of mothers in this and a previous study reported that they knew about SBS and also knew that shaking was dangerous. Because there are parents who go through SBS prevention programs of this nature and still shake, it may be important to emphasize other content in SBS education. Suggested content derived from this study that should bear more weight in SBS education includes information about infant crying and soothing, the importance of parenting support, and parent mental health. Moms learned from the program that it is acceptable to let an infant cry after trying soothing techniques and ensuring that the infant is fed, diapered, and not sick. This finding suggests that mothers lack knowledge about infant crying and more education related to crying and soothing may be necessary due to the association in the literature between crying and SBS. Furthermore, only a third of the participants stated that they practiced self-coping techniques and even fewer mothers accessed community support services in this study. This may indicate a lack of knowledge related to techniques and services, or a lack of time and support to initiate self-coping techniques. Data were collected from 7,051 participants who completed the "Love Me...Never Shake Me" program at 1 of 5 hospitals in central Ohio. Figure, tables, and references