New Zealand SIDS Death Rate Decreases
New statistics released by the New Zealand Ministry of
Health show that the national rate of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS) fell by 70% after an educational
campaign in wrapping mattresses with special
polyethelene covers was begun. The program began after
research by a NZ scientist showed a link between SIDS
and the toxic fumes emitted by mattresses.
According to the statistics, NZ Maori babies are 10
times more likely than NZ European (Pakeha) babies to
die of SIDS.(2) Following the implementation of
mattress-wrapping by the Pakeha community over the
last eleven years (with an 85% reduction in their SIDS
rate), New Zealand has the highest inter-ethnic SIDS
disparity of any country in the world.
In contrast to the US and UK, where back sleeping has
been adopted as a method to prevent crib death, New
Zealand began to publicize mattress-wrapping in 1994,
with the practice widely adopted. Since then, the rate
of deaths on unwrapped mattresses has continued to
increase, while no deaths have been reported for
babies sleeping on wrapped mattresses. Another
advantage to this solution is that babies can sleep in
a variety of positions and not suffer from
plagiocephaly, or flattened heads.
The results of the New Zealand mattress-wrapping
program have been published in two peer-reviewed
journals of environmental medicine(3) and far exceed
the results of any other SIDS prevention program in
Notes
Source of statistics: New Zealand Ministry of Health
(final statistics to 2001; provisional statistics for
2002 and 2003; progress counts for 2004 and 2005).
NZ Maori SIDS rate: 2.0 deaths per 1000 live births;
NZ European/Pakeha SIDS rate: 0.2 deaths per 1000 live
births.
Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine
2004;14(3): 221-232. Zeitschrift fuer Umweltmedizin
2002; 44: 18-22.
For further information, see: www.cotlife2000.co.nz[/URL]
New statistics released by the New Zealand Ministry of
Health show that the national rate of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS) fell by 70% after an educational
campaign in wrapping mattresses with special
polyethelene covers was begun. The program began after
research by a NZ scientist showed a link between SIDS
and the toxic fumes emitted by mattresses.
According to the statistics, NZ Maori babies are 10
times more likely than NZ European (Pakeha) babies to
die of SIDS.(2) Following the implementation of
mattress-wrapping by the Pakeha community over the
last eleven years (with an 85% reduction in their SIDS
rate), New Zealand has the highest inter-ethnic SIDS
disparity of any country in the world.
In contrast to the US and UK, where back sleeping has
been adopted as a method to prevent crib death, New
Zealand began to publicize mattress-wrapping in 1994,
with the practice widely adopted. Since then, the rate
of deaths on unwrapped mattresses has continued to
increase, while no deaths have been reported for
babies sleeping on wrapped mattresses. Another
advantage to this solution is that babies can sleep in
a variety of positions and not suffer from
plagiocephaly, or flattened heads.
The results of the New Zealand mattress-wrapping
program have been published in two peer-reviewed
journals of environmental medicine(3) and far exceed
the results of any other SIDS prevention program in
Notes
Source of statistics: New Zealand Ministry of Health
(final statistics to 2001; provisional statistics for
2002 and 2003; progress counts for 2004 and 2005).
NZ Maori SIDS rate: 2.0 deaths per 1000 live births;
NZ European/Pakeha SIDS rate: 0.2 deaths per 1000 live
births.
Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine
2004;14(3): 221-232. Zeitschrift fuer Umweltmedizin
2002; 44: 18-22.
For further information, see: www.cotlife2000.co.nz[/URL]