Midland babies benefit from Pēpi-Pod sleep spaces

Media Release

Change for our Children

Embargoed to: 5 pm 24th February 2014

Midland babies benefit from Pēpi-Pod sleep spaces

The innovative sleep spaces being supplied to families of more vulnerable babies, to help reduce sudden infant death, are making a positive difference, especially for Māori, and especially in Midland, claims a report released today. “This simple idea is rated highly by parents using the pods, and we are also encouraged by news of reducing infant deaths, especially in Midland,’ said programme director, Stephanie Cowan.

The Pēpi-Pod Programme: 2013 Report describes the distribution of 1373 portable sleep spaces in 8 regions of New Zealand during 2013, as well as information from parents who used them. “This is a great report with some really encouraging information on how, if we work hard with others, we can make a practical difference for those in need,” said Ditre Tamatea, General Manager, Te Puna Oranga (Māori Health Service), Waikato District Health Board.

Infant mortality statistics (all causes) for 2013, released last week by Statistics New Zealand, show that infant death rates are now similar across all four regions of New Zealand, Northern, Midland, Central and Southern, regardless of Māori birth rates. Midland was the only region to see a continuing fall in infant deaths during 2013 (from 61 to 51 deaths). There was no change for the Northern region (106-106) and an increase for Central (from 42-50) and Southern (from 44 to 48) regions.

Te Puna Oranga has led the initiative in Waikato, in conjunction with the Midland Maternity Advisory Group, and, worked in partnership with the other DHBs across the Midland area. Midland has the most concentrated supply of Pēpi-Pod sleep spaces. It is also the region with the highest proportion of Māori births, and the greatest prevention challenge. Māori infants are more at risk of sudden infant death, more commonly exposure to smoking in pregnancy and to sleeping with parents.

‘It cannot be claimed that the Pēpi-Pod Programme is the cause of the fall in deaths, for there are a lot of people working in various ways to protect babies, but it is heartening to see that the effort in Midland, in particular, by health teams and families, is in the right direction,’ said Cowan.

It seems that the programme supported parents in practical ways as well as with safety. They liked being able to have their babies close by during the day, as well as in the night, loved the convenience when traveling, visiting and moving about the house, and 76% found pods helped with settling their babies for sleep. “This simple concept has supported parents to provide safe sleep for their babies within the context of their social and cultural norms,” said Cowan.

The report has been released to mark the anniversary of the Canterbury earthquake which propelled the programme into action out of concern for the lives of babies when living and sleeping conditions were disrupted. The programme quickly spread from an emergency response to its current place as an integrated part of infant health and safety in some parts of New Zealand, with programmes establishing in Australia, and interest from the United Kingdom and the United States.

ENDS

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