New research recently published by the University of Sunshine Coast Nursing and Midwifery has found the rate of Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infants (SUDI) was more than 3.5 times higher for Indigenous Australian infants than non-Indigenous infants from 2010-2014. The Australian government’s Closing the Gap campaign had reported SUDI rates as only two times higher for Indigenous infants—far lower than reality.
Why So Different?
Indigenous Australian SUDI rates jumped because of under-identification of Indigenous status in infant death records. This is concerning because flawed statistics can lead to insufficient funding for programs aimed at Closing the Gap. Under-identification also hinders the ability to determine the genuine progress of Closing the Gap.
What’s Being Done
The government has yet to take action toward under-identification of Indigenous infants as this report was just released. Public health initiatives educating parents on safe sleep habits have proven effective in reducing instances of SUDI. Charities like Red Nose are aimed at providing educational materials and resources to parents with the goal of eradicating SUDI.
Read USC’s report here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12951
Visit Red Nose here: https://rednose.org.au/
Adrian Chernyk: Health & Indigenous Australians 