SynthesisJournal of global health2021
A systematic review of the burden and risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Africa.
Synthesis in Journal of global health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Cranial normality indices in Ugandan infants based on smartphone photogrammetry: key parameters for the study of cranial deformation.Head & face medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Global burden, inequalities, frontier dynamics, and risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis from the global burden of disease study 2021.Translational pediatrics · 2025Article
- Rates of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and its Subcategories in the U.S.: The Effect of Maternal Race, Ethnicity and Nativity.Maternal and child health journal · 2025Article
- Article
- Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome and the impact of COVID-19: a trend and health inequality analysis based on the global burden of disease study 2021.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025Article
- Qualitative assessment of infant sleep practices and other risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) among mothers in Lusaka, Zambia.BMC pediatrics · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundWhile sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has long been recognized as a leading preventable cause of infant mortality in high-income countries, little is known about the burden of SIDS in Africa. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted the first systematic review of SIDS-related publications in Africa. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of SIDS and its risk factors in Africa.
methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar to identify studies published until December 26, 2020. Review authors screened titles and abstracts, and selected articles independently for full-text review. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) or a modification. Data on the proportion of infants who died of SIDS and reported prevalence of any risk factors were extracted using customized data extraction forms in Covidence.
resultsOur analysis rested on 32 peer-reviewed articles. Nine studies presented prevalence estimates on bedsharing and prone sleeping, suggesting near-universal bedsharing of infants with parents (range, 60 to 91.8%) and frequent use of the prone sleeping position (range, 26.7 to 63.8%). Eleven studies reported on the prevalence of SIDS, suggesting high rates of SIDS in Africa. The prevalence of SIDS ranged from 3.7 per 1000 live births in South Africa, 2.5 per 1000 live births in Niger, and 0.2 per 1000 live births in Zimbabwe. SIDS and other sudden infant deaths accounted for between 2.5 to 21% of infant deaths in South Africa and 11.3% in Zambia.
conclusionsAfrica may have the highest global rate of SIDS with a high burden of associated risk factors. However, majority of the studies were from South Africa which limits generalizability of our findings to the entire continent. There is an urgent need for higher quality studies outside of South Africa to fill this knowledge gap. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021257261.
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