Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The Metropolitan Dade County Experience,1979–1983

Abstract

A study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or ‘crib death’ cases was performed on the case files of the office of the Medical Examiner of Metropolitan Dade County in Miami, Florida, during the years 1979 to 1983. One hundred and thirty-nine cases were collected and analysed according to: the rate per thousand live births; racial and ethnic variation in this rate; the age distribution of the victims; the race and sex of the victim; the location of the terminal incident; and the scene circumstances. The rate of occurrence of SIDS in Dade County has decreased overall in the five years studied—more so in white and Spanish-surnamed individuals than in blacks. The victim is most commonly from eight to nine weeks of age or three to six months of age. Most victims were black males. The most common scenario was being found dead after a feeding in a bed at home. Other SIDS deaths in the family were not common. The mother of the decedent most frequently found the victim and fire rescue intervention (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) occurred approximately half the time.