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Pepipods for a safe infant sleep? A video, physiological and thermal evaluation

Year:
2013
Duration:
38 months
Approved budget:
$200,000.00
Researchers:
Professor Barry Taylor
Health issue:
Sudden unexplained death of an infant (SUDI)
Proposal type:
Health Delivery Research Partnership Project
Lay summary
The Health and Safety Commission (HSQC) has asked DHB’s to create policy and intervention strategy to ensure that every baby has a safe sleeping environment in order to decrease NZ’s high rate of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). The pepi-pod, a plastic bassinet-sized container with a fitted mattress, is now being provided for vulnerable infants in some DHBs despite no prior studies of its safety. We plan to investigate 100 infants using a pepi-pod for overnight sleep in their home using infrared video, and measures of heart rate, blood oxygen levels and body temperature. The results will be compared to similar infants from our current study that has used the same measures with infants in bedside cots or flax wahakura. The results will provide urgently needed evidence to support (or otherwise) the current plans that are being implemented in many DHB’s.