Parents' behavior in response to infant crying: abusive head trauma education.
Abusive head trauma (AHT) is still too common, and probably underestimated. It is the leading cause of death from child abuse. Crying is thought to contribute to the act of shaking. Objectives of this study were to (a) assess parents' knowledge about infant crying, their ability to manage crying, and their knowledge about AHT; and (b) assess the feasibility and the impact of a simple educational intervention about crying and AHT with parents shortly after their child's birth. A short questionnaire was completed orally by the parents of 190 consecutive newborns in a maternity hospital at day 2 of life. Then, during the routine examination of the child, the pediatrician gave parents a short talk about infant crying and AHT, and a pamphlet. Finally, parents were contacted by phone at 6 weeks for the post-intervention questionnaire assessing their knowledge about crying and AHT. Among 202 consecutive births, parents of 190 children were included (266 parents; 70% mothers) over a 1-month period and answered the pre-intervention questionnaire. The intervention was feasible and easy to provide. Twenty-seven percent of mothers and 36% of fathers had never heard of AHT. At 6 weeks, 183 parents (68% of the sample; 80% mothers) answered the post-intervention questionnaire. Parents' knowledge improved significantly post-intervention. Parents found the intervention acceptable and useful. Health care professionals such as pediatricians or nurses could easily provide this brief talk to all parents during systematic newborn examination.
['Simonnet|Hina|H|', 'Laurent-Vannier|Anne|A|', 'Yuan|Wenlun|W|', 'Hully|Marie|M|', 'Valimahomed|Sakil|S|', 'Bourennane|Malek|M|', 'Chevignard|Mathilde|M|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D002649:Child Abuse D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma D003448:Crying D005260:Female D005602:France D006266:Health Education D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010290:Parents D038642:Shaken Baby Syndrome D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Crying Abusive head trauma Non-accidental head injury Primary prevention Shaken baby syndrome