The Study of Attitudes and Factors Effecting PREterm infant care Practices (SAFE-PREP)

SAFE-PREP is funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD). The purpose of this study is to determine prevalence of adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics recommended infant care practices that are associated with reduction in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) among mothers of preterm infants (gestation age <37 weeks) and to examine factors that contribute to non-adherence. This project expands on a previous study entitled SAFE (Study of Attitudes and Factors Effecting infant care Practices), which tracked adherence to the same behaviors in mothers of primarily healthy term infants (<37 weeks).

A nationally representative sample of 30 hospitals that provide care for preterm infants will be recruited for participation. At these hospitals, a representative sample of 1,500 mothers will be enrolled prior to the discharge of their preterm infant(s). Following enrollment, baseline data and tracking information will be collected. Follow-up data regarding infant care practices and/or factors potentially associated with those practices will be collected via detailed web-based or phone surveys at 4 to 8 weeks and 4 to 6 months post discharge.

The SAFE-PREP study utilizes a mixed-methods design informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior framework for studying maternal behavior. We will examine safe sleep, feeding, and smoking practices among mothers of preterm infants and factors unique to mother-preterm infant dyads that contribute to non-adherence to these practices.