Parents' Perceptions of Infant Crying: A Possible Path to Preventing Abusive Head Trauma.
OBJECTIVE
Infant crying can lead to parental frustration and is the most common trigger for abusive head trauma (AHT). We used qualitative methodology with an activating stimulus (an audiotape of an infant crying) to prime the participants to engage in open dialogue for the purpose of understanding their perceptions of infant crying and its association with AHT, with the aim that information from these interviews and the impact of hearing the activating stimulus could be used to inform interventions to prevent AHT that would resonate with parents.


METHODS
We conducted 25 initial qualitative interviews and 16 subsequent interviews with mothers and fathers of newborns. Before the initial interview, parents listened to a 1-minute audio clip of a crying infant, followed by a preventive message regarding AHT. The transcribed data were analyzed, and themes were developed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. Data collection and analysis continued past the point of thematic saturation.


RESULTS
Four themes emerged from the initial interviews: 1) previous experience is helpful to manage infant crying, 2) babies cry for a reason, 3) shaking an infant is incomprehensible to parents, and 4) the role of safety planning to manage frustration with crying. Analysis of the subsequent interviews revealed 2 additional themes: 1) use of supports for infant crying (eg, technology and physician advice) and 2) effects of the audio clip on caregiving practices.


CONCLUSION
Previous experiences and beliefs about crying affect parents' perceptions of infant crying and AHT. After discharge, parents reported using technology for information and support and thinking about the audio clip when caring for their infant. These experiences, beliefs, and practices may aid in shaping effective prevention strategies to prevent AHT.
['Wiley|Melora|M|', 'Schultheis|Alysse|A|', 'Francis|Brianna|B|', 'Tiyyagura|Gunjan|G|', 'Leventhal|John M|JM|', 'Rutherford|Helena J V|HJV|', 'Mayes|Linda C|LC|', 'Bechtel|Kirsten|K|']
D002648:Child D002649:Child Abuse D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma D003448:Crying D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D010290:Parents D010465:Perception
crying prevention abusive head trauma