9.5: Examples of Effective Programs for Maternal and Infant Health
Postpartum home visitations by nurses can help to reduce incidences of child maltreatment, and improve postpartum psychosocial outcomes. Nurses in one study provided 1-3 home visits after the birth of a baby, to provide support and resources for parental and infant health, managing infant crying, and connecting parents with other community support they might need. The nurses also screened for potential problems like family violence or substance abuse, and provided referrals for further interventions if needed (Dodge et al., 2019).
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant before the age of 1 - typically occurs in their sleep - and cannot otherwise be explained. Most of these deaths happen in cribs, and although specific causes are often unknown, several risk and protective factors have been identified. Eliminating smoking from the home, placing a baby to sleep on their backs, and removing any blankets, toys, or other objects from the crib have been shown to be effective protective measures against SIDS. In fact, since the beginning of the “Back to Sleep” campaign in 1994 (now called “Safe to Sleep), SIDS rates have dropped from 130.3 to 38.4 per 100,000 live births (between 1990-2020) (CDC, 2024e, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).