Sacred Babies Infant Survival Curriculum

2017

Rhonda Campbell, RN, BN, MScWanda Phillips-Beck, RN, BN,MSc

For our Future Generations

Faculty/Presenter Disclosure

Rhonda Campbell and Wanda Phillips‐Beck have no relevant financial relationships with the manufacturer(s) of commercial services discussed in this activityThe presenters do not intend to discuss an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device in my presentation.

OUTLINE• INTRODUCTION• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS• THE SURVIVAL GUIDE• ELDERS’ BELIEFS• IMPORTANCE OF TOPIC• OUR GOALS• CURRICULUM ORGANIZATION• SIDS 101• REFERENCES/LINKAGES• QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

• This curriculum is a family-centred (inclusive of all members of families-fathers/grandparents/aunties etc.) educational program with the aim of providing families with information on how to keep their babies safe for their first year of life and beyond.

• This curriculum was developed in partnership with Strengthening Families Maternal Child Health Program –Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Cree Nation Tribal Council & Little Black Bear and Associates, funded by First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada.

Sacred Babies-Infant Survival Guide

Acknowledgements (The Team)

Michelle Tulley, RN, BN. Former Maternal Child Health Clinical Resource Specialist, First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of ManitobaRhonda Campbell, RN, BN, MSc. – Lead Researcher & content expertiseDarrell Phillips, Little Black Bear & Associates, Project ManagerWanda Phillips-Beck, RN, BN, MSc. Maternal Child Health, FNHSSM – Maternal Child Health Program Partner & content expertiseCree Nations Tribal Health Authority – Community PartnerFirst Nations and Inuit Health Branch – Project Funder West Coast Kids – Private Sector Sponsor @ http://www.westcoastkids.ca

The Infant Survival Guide

• developed as an easy to follow curriculum fully scripted that guides a discussion with families during one or two sessions.

• includes interactive learning activities.

• A facilitators guide was developed so that the material and curriculum can be self-taught.

Our Beliefs

• Our elders and teachings of the past taught us that all children are sacred gifts of the Creator.

• That infants sit very near to the Elder in the cycle of life and remain closely connected to the spiritual world.

• As infants remain very close to the spiritual world, they remain very vulnerable and require special care and nurturing until able to care for themselves.

• We as caregivers, teachers, elders, educators, communities all have a role to play in helping our young ones to walk safely, walk long, thrive well and flourish in their journey to adulthood.

Why is this topic Important?

• Sadly, for every infant death under a year in Canada, two or three First Nations babies die (2-3 X higher rates).

• Infant Mortality Rates (Infant Death Rates) are an important indicator for the health of a population or sub-population.

• Some of the causes of these deaths are known: congenital anomalies (defects at birth), low birth weight babies, respiratory illnesses and other external causes of injury.

• Some of causes for infant deaths are unknown: SIDS ranks number three for First Nations families in Manitoba* and may be consistent or even higher across First Nations in Canada.

*Phillips-Beck W., Star, L., Avery-Kinew, K., Martens, P., et al. (2013)*Zhong-Cheng, L., Heaman, M. Martens, P., Smylie, J. (2010).

Source:  Health Canada & Statistics Canada

Infant Death Rates can vary from year to year, as do the rates of deaths attributed to SIDS

Infant Mortality Rates 1991 – 2005 per1000 live births

Infant Mortality in First Nations/Canada

Infant mortality rates, by province and territory(Both sexes)

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011Canada 5.1 5.1 4.9 5.0 4.8NF 7.5 5.1 6.3 5.3 6.3PEI 5.0 2.0 3.4 3.6 4.2NS 3.3 3.5 3.4 4.6 4.9NB 4.3 3.2 5.8 3.4 3.5QB 4.5 4.3 4.4 5.0 4.3ON 5.2

7.35.36.5

5.06.3

5.06.7

4.67.7MB

SK 5.8 6.2 6.7 5.9 6.7AB 6.0 6.2 5.5 5.9 5.3BC 4.0 3.7 3.6 3.8 3.8YK 8.5 5.4 7.8 5.2 0.0NWY 4.1 9.7 15.5 1.4 7.2NU 15.1 16.1 14.8 14.5 26.3Note: The infant mortality rate is calculated as the number of deaths of children less than one year of age per 1,000 live births in the same year.

Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM, table 102-0504.

Last modified: 2013-09-25.

Our Goals

• To help reduce the number of potentially preventable deaths by sharing this information widely with families through as many avenues and mediums as possible (print, radio, video, home visits).

• To reach as many families as possible, as early as possible, during pregnancy or shortly after having their babies.

• To provide training to community based staff in children’s programs on how to use the educational curriculum in their everyday work with families.

Curriculum Organization

• The resource is organized into two parts.– Facilitators Manual– Parent Booklet

• The curriculum was developed to be delivered to prenatal or post-partum families.

• The curriculum was developed to be presented during– a home visit with a family– group presentation

Sacred Babies/Infant Survival Curriculum Manual 

• The information was developed to be delivered over 1 -2 home visits 1:1 with families or in group sessions.

• The information written in Times New Roman Font is to be read to the family or is considered the script.

• The information written in Italics is to be considered as direction or suggestions for the facilitator.

Sacred Babies/Infant Survival Curriculum Manual 

Content• The manual is divided into nine sections, each designed to

build on the information from the previous section.

1. Introduction to SIDS2. SIDS Facts / Definition 3. Sleep Position4. Crib Safety5. Tummy Time6. Smoking7. Bed Sharing8. Breast is Best9. Summary

Sacred Babies/Infant Survival Curriculum Manual 

Bookmarks• Throughout the nine section, there are repetitive themes or

bookmarks. They alert the presenter to something special about the information.

• Elders Teachings• Reference to Booklet• Research• Reflection-looking back on information• Listen & Pause

BookmarksThroughout the nine section, there are repetitive themes or bookmarks. They

alert the presenter to something special about the information.

SIDS 101

• SIDS is defined as the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age which is unexplained after a thorough case investigation, after performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the infant’s and family’s clinical history.

• SIDS, although sometimes called a “leading” or “top cause”, is not actually a cause - It really is a death of a baby with no identifiable cause.

• Although we cannot positively identify what are causing these deaths, we do know what some of the risk factors are.

• We also know that we have the power to change some of these risk factors.

What are the Risk Factors?

• Prone Sleeping position (baby placed to sleep on stomach or side)

• Pre-term (premature) birth or babies with low birth weight• Slower than normal growth rate for baby• Sleeping on soft mattress or surface• Sleeping in an area that is too warm (baby overheats)• Smoking or drug use during pregnancy• Socio-economically disadvantaged circumstances (poverty)• Cluttered sleeping area (e.g. toys, pillows, blankets in the

crib or sleep area)• First Nation heritage• Being Male

Risk Factors

• Sharing a bed with the baby

• Sharing the bed with another child

• Parents who are smokers and smoking in the home

• Having a brother or sister who has died of SIDS

• Young mother

• Late or no prenatal care during pregnancy

• A history of needing resuscitation because breathing has stopped

• Low APGAR score at birth (APGAR score measures a baby’s overall condition and is taken soon after baby is born, based on baby’s skin color, breathing, heart rate, responsiveness and muscle tone)

SLEEP POSITION

CRIB SAFETY

TRADITIONAL SWINGS

TUMMY TIME

SMOKING

ALTERNATIVE SAFE SLEEP SURFACES

BREAST IS BEST

Sacred Babies/Infant Survival Parent Booklet 

• The Parent Booklet is to be utilized in conjunction with the curriculum.

• It is an easy to follow, condensed version of the teaching sheets and posters used in the curriculum.

• The bookmark link/chain is used in the curriculum to direct the family to the corresponding page and teaching sheet in the booklet.

• A certificate of curriculum completion is located on the last page, which can be filled out when the resource is completed with the family or at the end of the group presentation.

• The booklet is considered a keepsake, with the hope the family will share the information with others.

Sacred Babies/Infant SurvivalReference/Linkage

Sacred Babies/Infant Survival

Contact information:rcampbell@fnhssm.com

wphillips‐beck@fnhssm.comjwilson@fnhssm.com

For more information on the 2 day training for use of the curriculum please contact 

Little Black Bear and Associates at littleblackbear007@gmail.com