Introduction:

The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is related to risk factors and prevention strategies that are unknown to health professionals and the general population.

Objective:

To determine the knowledge on SIDS in Bogotá based on the information obtained through surveys conducted in 2010 to parents and caregivers of infants under one year of age.

Materials and methods:

1 101 caregivers of infants from different socioeconomic levels were evaluated through surveys. The results were compared by socioeconomic stratum, and a statistical analysis was performed.

Results:

This study found some behaviors that increase the risk of SIDS in infants; for example, 2.1% of the interviewed mothers reported tobacco consumption during pregnancy, with greater involvement in lower socioeconomic strata (12.53%) compared to higher strata (3.10%). Out of 77% of participants who were given recommendations on sleeping positions for infants, 8% recognized that this fact is highly relevant to prevent SIDS. It was found that 63% of infants sleep in positions considered as risk factors for SIDS.

Conclusions:

The results reflect the risk to which infants are exposed because of wrong practices associated with poor knowledge, and recommendations given, in many cases, by health professionals. Likewise, risk is higher among the poorest population.

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