SBS Prevention Tales of Two States: Michigan, Kentucky

In Michigan, HealthCanal.com reports a pediatrician at Mott Children's Hospital is working with Flint High schools to increase awareness about the vulnerability of young children to inflicted head injuries.  The project is supported by a CATCH grant from the AAP, funded by Pfzier ..

U-M pediatrician strives to improve children’s health through community-based initiative

08/07/2011 - There are approximately 1,300-1,600 reported cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) each year in the U.S. One out of four babies with Shaken Baby Syndrome die. The other three babies will need ongoing medical attention for the rest of their short life spans.

Faisal Mawri, M.D., FAAP, a pediatrician at U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, has developed a community-based initiative to combat this health challenge. With support from the Community Access To Child Health (CATCH) Program, a national program of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Mawri endeavors to reduce the incidence of SBS in the Flint area.

“Shaken Baby Syndrome or Abusive Head Trauma is a form of inflicted head trauma on infants and young children. SBS represents one of the most severe forms of child abuse with up to 30% mortality among infants. Despite the severity of the injuries and enormous societal cost, SBS continue to occur frequently in our society.” Mawri said. “I believe the Flint area has a higher per capita Shaken Baby Syndrome rate than the national average.”

Through a CATCH implementation grant, Mawri was able to create the Keep Infants Safe and Secure (KISS) program for local schools. Mawri’s research shows that young first-time parents, particularly young fathers, benefit from education about SBS. The KISS program is working with three Flint high schools to educate the students about the effects and dangers of SBS.

"With a relatively small grant, pediatricians with a vision can make a big difference to help make communities healthier for the children who live there," says O. Marion Burton, M.D., FAAP, president of the AAP. AAP has recently awarded twenty-five CATCH implementation grants nationwide, totaling $280,655. Mawri’s project is supported in full by Pfizer.

And in Kentucky, following Kentucky's 2010 adoption of SBS prevention legislation sponsored by Rep. Adda Wuchner, WLKY.com reports that child abuse deaths are showing an encouraging trend...

Child Abuse Deaths Down In Kentucky
Number Still Above National Average

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -July 7, 2011 - The latest report on child abuse deaths shows Kentucky has lost its No. 1 ranking, but is still above the national average.   The only forensic pediatrician in the state said the improvement in ranking is due in part to increased awareness and training.

Kosair Children's Hospital said it sees about 75 cases of abusive head trauma each year, one-third of those cases resulting in death.   Experts said in these cases, the explanation of the child's injuries usually does not match the trauma suffered, and medical professionals need to know the difference.

"When it's a case of abusive head trauma, almost always either the child comes in with no history of trauma. Yet the child clearly has suffered trauma to the head, or there's a history that is just not consistent with what we're finding," said Dr. Melissa Currie.

Currie said the most common trigger for abusive head trauma is crying.  Offering help to new moms, and teaching caregivers it's OK to lay a baby in a safe place and take a break, goes a long way in preventing these deaths and injuries.

Read more: http://www.wlky.com/news/28471002/detail.html#ixzz1RXB0ZFK6

Good news about a local prevention effort in Flint, Michigan...

Hurley doctor starts effort to combat Shaken Baby Syndrome
by Elizabeth Shaw | The Flint Journal
Tuesday December 09, 2008, 5:52 PM

FLINT, Michigan -- It was only 10 seconds.

In October, police testified in Genesee County Circuit Court that Paul D. Powell II, 17, shook his 8-month-old daughter Takyra Rene Banks "for a period of about 10 seconds" because she would not stop crying. Powell is now awaiting trial for murder and first-degree child abuse in the July 17th death.

It's something Hurley Pediatric Chief Resident Dr. Faisal Mawri has seen too often -- and never wants to see again.
Flint Journal extras For tips on soothing an unhappy baby:

• www.thehappiestbaby.com.

What to do with a crying baby:

• Make sure all the baby's needs have been met and there is no physical or medical cause that requires attention.
• Put the baby in a safe place (crib, bassinet or play pen) and leave the room for a few minutes to calm down.
• Take several deep breaths and count to 10.
• Say the alphabet out loud, read a poem or close your eyes and think of something pleasant.
• Do housework or another task to distract your attention.
• Create a noise to get the baby's attention such as a blender or vacuum cleaner.
• Hug and cuddle the baby. Wrap the infant in a blanket and carry him or her around.
• Call someone to ask for help.

Source: Genesee County Health Department

"I went into pediatrics because I love children. It is very difficult to see a baby fighting for its life with a tube in its throat, trying to breathe, and to know it was caused in an instant when a mother or father was simply upset because the baby won't stop crying," said Mawri. "What has surprised me in talking to parents here is how many do not know that shaking a baby could cause these fatalities."

Mawri hopes to change that with a $3,000 grant he received from the American Academy of Pediatrics' Community Access to Child Health to launch "Never Shake Your Baby.

It's a good thing Dr. Mawri is doing. I just wish there was more collaboration among advocates, so we could all work more efficiently and effectively. There is a peculiar tendency among advocates to reinvent wheels.

For example, there is a regional SBS prevention coordinated by DeVos Children's Hospital. And in Saginaw, the Child Abuse Council is using Baby Think It Over dolls (OK, infant simulators) to increase awareness.

It's a big world, with lots of parents to educate. Let's collaborate...

And I just have to say that there doesn't seem to be a compelling need to spend money develop a new prevention video. Let's hope that part of the plan got transmogrified by the reporter.