Preventing sudden unexpected death in infancy
Indigenous Australian babies are four times more likely to die of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). Co-sleeping, a culturally-valued practice, increases the risk in some circumstances. The Pēpi-Pod® Program is an effective intervention to protect our most vulnerable babies. It combines a culturally acceptable and practical safe-sleeping solution, with support, education and empowerment for parents. Research shows, by promoting safer sleep, we're saving lives.
"In areas where the Pēpi-Pod® Program achieved the highest level of community participation
within the target population, there was a 75% reduction in infant mortality." Queensland Government, 2022
3 steps to safer sleep
The Pēpi-Pod® Program uses a three phase approach to protect infant breathing, reducing the risk of accidental suffocation.
1. Portable Pēpi-Pod® sleep spaces provide a zone of physical protection to protect a baby's airway. Pēpi-Pods® are made from 100% virgin polypropylene and provided with a firm and fitting mattress and bedding.
2. Personalised education and resources about infant breathing and airway protection is provided by trained distributors who work within services that partner with the program.
3. Family invitation to share what they have learned about protecting babies as they sleep within their own social networks.
Easier to breathe,
safer to sleep.
(Key principle of
The Pēpi-Pod® Program)
Inspired by ancient wisdom
The Pēpi-Pod® Program gives parents more choice and supports centuries-old Indigenous cultural childcare practices of shared sleeping. It keeps parents and babies closer together, providing a zone of protection when suffocation risk is high. The design draws from the traditional Māori Wahakura and Australian Aboriginal Coolaman.Research highlights
- In 2011, UniSC researchers introduced The Pēpi-Pod® Program in Queensland as a research intervention in collaboration with Change for our Children New Zealand.
- Compared to the national average, Queensland communities had a 30 percent higher rate of SUDI, compared to the national average.
- More than 900 Queensland families participated with wide acceptance from Queensland Indigenous communities.
- Researchers, and partner communities, found the program to be acceptable, feasible, safe, and culturally appropriate. Importantly, the program demonstrated improved safety of infant sleep practices.
- Latest research in 2022 shows The Pepi-Pod Program demonstrates a 75 per cent reduction in the infant mortality (between the ages of 28 days and 6 months) in the Queensland postcode areas where the program had the highest level of community participation in the target population.
- A 22 percent significant reduction in the infant mortality rate (between the ages of 28 days and 6 months) was demonstrated in the Queensland (whole) population from 2014 onwards, aligning with phases of research and limited implementation of the Pēpi-Pod® Program.
- The Pēpi-Pod® Program has been shown to be a low cost, high return investment to prevent infant mortality.
- The principles of airway protection are applicable to all mainstream services caring which care for vulnerable families.
- UniSC researchers, in collaboration with key stakeholders, are now developing a framework for Queensland-wide implementation over an eight year program, with recommendations made to the Queensland Government.
Resources and publications
- Young, J, (2023) Preventing sudden unexpected death in infancy. Research Features: Research Pod: Health and Medicine (Podcast), May 31, 2023. (9min 28 secs)
- Young, J, (2023) If it’s easy to breathe, it’s safe to sleep: reducing suffocation risk for high-risk babies. Research Features (Video)
- Young, J, (2022) The Pēpi-Pod® Program: Preventing sudden unexpected death in infancy. Research Features: Health and Medicine (article). (November 25, 2022)
- McEniery J, et al, (2022) Measuring effectiveness of the Pēpi-Pod® Program in reducing infant mortality in Queensland. State of Queensland (Queensland Health), June 2022.
- Young, J, et al, (2018) The Queensland Pēpi-Pod® Program: strategy to promote safe sleeping environments and reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Final Implementation Project Report for the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, Queensland Government, 2018.
- Young, J, et al, (2018) Reducing risk for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies: trial of a safe sleep enabler to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected deaths in infancy in high risk environments, Final Research Project Report, 2018.
- Young, J, et al, (2017) Uniting cultural practices and safe sleep environments for vulnerable Indigenous Australian infants, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 24(9), 37.
- Young, J, et al, (2019) Best practice principles for research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in action: Case study of a safe infant sleep strategy. Women and Birth 32(5): 460-465.
Recognition and awards
The Queensland Pēpi-Pod® Program has been recognised with two national awards:
- Winner, HESTA Australian Nursing Awards - Team Innovation
- National Winner, National Lead Clinicians Group Award for Excellence in Innovative Implementation of Clinical Practice (Indigenous Health Category)
Leading the way
Professor Jeanine Young AM
PhD Bristol, BSc(Hons) UWE Bristol, DipAdvNursCare UWE Bristol, RN, RM, FACN
Chief Investigator, Australian Pepi-Pod® Program
Deputy Head of School, Research - UniSC
Professor Jeanine Young is a registered nurse, midwife, and neonatal nurse with over 30 years of experience in neonatal, paediatric, maternal and child health care. Jeanine has a special interest in how infant care practices impact infant mortality, and in particular breastfeeding, parent-infant bed-sharing and shared sleeping practices.
Pēpi-Pod® at UniSC - IN THE NEWS
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