SUMMARY OF TEACHING/LEARNING INTERACTION : ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND SAFETY PROMOTION FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF INFANTS

I. Demographical Information

Respondent is a 27- year old Hispanic woman who just had a baby daughter two months ago. She is married, and works as a waitress in a local taco shop with minimum wage. She said that she only finished 6th grade. She only works part-time, because they couldn’t afford a baby sitter. Her mother sometimes helps her with the baby because her husband works full time as a construction worker. Maria is her first name.

Maria was seen in a community health clinic because she reported that her 2-month old daughter “almost died in her sleep”. According to her, the baby was left in a crib with furry toys and pillows. When asked about what type of bedding does the baby have, she responded that she used a soft mattress that was covered with a thick blanket. She said that her daughter “sleeps longer when covered”. However, one night, after coming home from work, she noticed that her baby is not responding. She found her sleeping in her side with that stuffed animal blocking her face. She immediately removed the toy, grabbed the baby and called 911. She was thankful that the baby survived. After two days, Maria was asked to see the baby’s local health clinic to follow-up the baby’s condition.

II. Patient’s Response to Teaching

My initial thought about this was SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which can occur when the baby is less than 1 year of age and is sleeping in an unsafe sleeping environment. (NIH, 2012) Clearly, there were risk factors involved in Maria’s case: the baby slept in a crib full of toys, pillows and blankets; not to mention the fact that she used a soft mattress for bedding. Maria also confirmed that SIDS was also the hospital’s diagnosis when the baby was admitted. She said that she did