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Assessment of parental awareness of the shaken baby syndrome in Ireland

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Abstract

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) results in cerebral trauma. Creating awareness through education may improve parental response to a distressed infant. We aim to assess current parental understanding of SBS and identify knowledge gaps. A prospective assessment was carried out in two independent maternity hospitals (National Maternity Hospital (NMH) and Midland Regional Hospital (MRH)) over a 4-month period. Multi-dimensional questionnaires were distributed to parents (n = 233) and results were assessed anonymously. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS21 software. Two hundred thirty-three participants were included: n = 114 (NMH), n = 119 (MRH). Fifty-four percent (n = 62, NMH) and 50 % (n = 60, MRH) had never heard of SBS. Of those who had, media was the commonest source: 94 % (47/50) NMH; 86 % (47/59) MRH. Less than 1 % of participants obtained information through a health care provider. Nearly all respondents wanted further information, regardless of whether they had prior knowledge (100 % (NMH); 99.2 % (MRH)). Participants wanted information delivered via a midwife (51 % (58/114) NMH; 45 % (54/119) MRH), with reading material (61 % (69/114) NMH; 59 % (70/119) MRH), during pre-natal period (50 % (57/114) NMH; 65 % (77/119) MRH). Importantly, parents of Irish origin were more likely to have heard of SBS compared to those of non-Irish origin (p = 0.026 (NMH), p = 0.020 (MRH)).

Conclusion: Half of all participants had no prior knowledge of SBS, with majority expressing interest in learning more. Therefore, a national “Don’t Shake” campaign is evolving.

What is Known:

• Studies have shown that educating parents regarding shaken baby syndrome (SBS) may result in a more safe and appropriate response to infant crying [ 3 ].

• In Ireland, there is no such education provided to parents in maternity hospitals.

What is New:

• Just over half of our participants had not heard of SBS, and we have identified parental perceptions of SBS, and parents preferred method of anti-SBS education delivery.

• This research will act as a launching platform for an anti-SBS campaign in Ireland.

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Abbreviations

AAP:

American Academy of Pediatrics

AHT:

Abusive head trauma

HCP:

Health care provider

MRH:

Midland Regional Hospital

NMH:

National Maternity Hospital

SBS:

Shaken baby syndrome

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Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Author's Contribution

A.K.M., Idea Conception; A.K.M. and C.V., Development of Questionnaire; A.K.M. and B.R., Data Collection and Analysis; A.K.M., Writing of Manuscript; A.K.M., B.R., F.S. and C.V., Manuscript Revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, National Maternity Hospital, Holles St, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Amandeep K. Mann & Claudine Vavasseur

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, Co, Westmeath, Ireland

    Birendra Rai & Farhana Sharif

  3. Department of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians (RCSI), Dublin 2, Ireland

    Farhana Sharif

Authors
  1. Amandeep K. Mann
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  2. Birendra Rai
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  3. Farhana Sharif
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  4. Claudine Vavasseur
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amandeep K. Mann.

Additional information

Communicated by Jaan Toelen

Revisions received: 09 December 2014/11 February 2015

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Mann, A.K., Rai, B., Sharif, F. et al. Assessment of parental awareness of the shaken baby syndrome in Ireland. Eur J Pediatr 174, 1339–1345 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-015-2528-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-015-2528-2

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