WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The 2024 Annual Report from the Kansas State Child Death Review Board released Monday showed an increase in infant deaths in 2022.
The report shows 210 infants died in 2022, leading to an Infant Mortality Rate of 6.1 deaths per 1,000 births. A figure in the report shows that number was at 5.0 in 2021, 6.4 in 2020, 5.7 in 2019 and 6.8 in 2018.
The SCDRB said 75% of the child deaths were from “natural” causes, while 20% were “undetermined”, 4% were from “unintentional injury” and 1% were “homicide.”
The report also highlights that 99% of sleep-related Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) involved one or more elements of unsafe sleep, the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network said.
“The number of sleep-related infant deaths exceeds the rate of other causes of childhood and adolescent deaths like motor vehicle accidents, drowning, homicide and suicide,” Dr. Stephanie Kulhmann, KIDS Network board member and pediatrician, said in a news release. “This reinforces the critical importance of promoting and implementing safe sleep education and practices statewide so we can continue to reduce the number of these preventable infant deaths.”
Characteristics of the sleep-related SUIDS in Kansas, per the KIDS Network:
- 99% had one or more elements of unsafe sleep
- 79% were not sleeping in a crib/bassinet
- 53% were sleeping in an adult bed
- 12% were sleeping on a couch or futon
- 54% were sharing a sleep surface
- 52% were put to sleep on their stomach, side, or a position other than the recommended supine (on their back) placement
- 11% of parents or caregivers fell asleep while either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding the infant
The report showed that sleep-related infant deaths over the last five years have not significantly changed. In 2022, the rate of infant deaths from sudden unexpected causes, which includes both “undetermined” and “unintentional injury-asphyxia SUID” deaths during sleep, slightly decreased in comparison to the previous two years to a rate of 1.3 deaths per 1,000 live births
Sleep-related SUID can occur at any time during an infant’s first year of life, but most occur between the ages of 1 and 4 months. a figure in the report shows.
The report said in all but one of the sleep-related SUID deaths reviewed by the board in 2022, there was evidence of one or more unsafe sleep practices. The “ABCs of Safe Sleep” are:
- Alone
- On their Back
- In a Crib
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and the KIDS Network and other state and local organizations are calling on Kansas communities to increase public awareness and education about safe sleep and healthy lifestyle choices.
For more information about the KIDS Network and upcoming local programs, click here.
To read the full report from the KSCDRB, click here.
