Facts About Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Deaths in California

SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants from one month of age up to one year of age.

Male babies are more likely to die from SIDS than female babies. Males accounted for 63% of all SIDS deaths, while females represented 37%.

More than 250 babies die from SIDS each year in California.

The rate of SIDS among babies born to mothers less than 20 years old was 147.4 per 100,000 live births. Births to mothers less than 20 years old account for 12.3% of live births and 22.4% of SIDS deaths.

The rate of SIDS among babies who weigh 11css than 2500 grams (5lbs 8 oz) is 281.6. The rate of SIDS among low birthweight babies born to mothers aged 18-19 is 667.8 per 100,000 live births.

The rate of Black infant deaths from SIDS in 1998 was more than three times that of whites. Babies from different racial/ethnic groups have different risks of dying from SIDS. The SIDS rate per 100,000 live births by grouped ethnicity is as follows:

• Asian/Pacific Islander 33.9
• Hispanic 28.5
• Black 201.2
• White 56.0

There is a seasonal pattern for SIDS. The highest percent of SIDS deaths occurs in November through March.

There is a distinctive age pattern for SIDS. SIDS is most likely to occur when the infant is between 1 to to 4 months, with 93% of SIDS babies dying by the age of 6 months.

Number of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Deaths by Age at Death, (graph)

SOURCE: California Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Death Records, 1998.

Links
Reduce the risk of SIDS
Additional SIDS resources
First Candle/SIDS Alliance
California SIDS Program

back to About SIDS