In the first study of its kind in England, researchers at the University of Warwick have examined the circumstances of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) cases subject to serious case review (SCR).
SCRs examine what can be learned from specific cases. The process is not an enquiry into how a child was harmed or died, or who was responsible, and is not a professional disciplinary review.
The study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, identified 30 SCRs for SIDS cases occurring between 1 April, 2011 and 31 March, 2014. Using published reports for 27 of the 30 cases, the median age at death was 2 months, with a range of 0-19 months.
The reports showed that in 18 cases parents did not engage with professionals. Alcohol or drug dependency was documented for 18 families. There were 14 cases of parental mental health problems, 13 cases where parents had criminal records and 9 cases of domestic abuse. Long-standing neglect was a prominent feature in 15 of the 27 cases.
In 9 cases there were unexpected changes in family circumstances immediately prior to the death.
Highly hazardous sleep environments were reported in relation to 18 deaths; 16 involved co-sleeping and 13 occurred with parents who were drunk or had taken drugs. Only 5 infants were found in non-hazardous sleep environments either in cots or Moses baskets.
The study authors said more consideration is needed on how best to support vulnerable families.
