Rate of Infant deaths due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (per 100,000 live births), Canada, 2000 to 2013
Note: *Number of deaths of infants under one year old
Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death and Birth Databases, Table 102-0562 Leading causes of death, infants, by sex, Canada, annual.
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=1020562&&pattern=&stByVal=1&p1=1&p2=-1&tabMode=dataTable&csid= – accessed June 21, 2017.
Between 2000 and 2013, the rate of death due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) declined by over 300% – from 36.9 deaths per 100,000 live births to 11.3.
In 2013, 43 infants died as a result of SIDS.
The SIDS death rates varies between the provinces and territories.1
Babies in the poorest neighbourhoods have the highest rates of SIDS deaths.1
1Public Health Agency of Canada. (PHAC) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in Canada. 2014. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/aspc-phac/HP35-51-2014-eng.pdf-accessed June 21, 2017.
Implications
The decline in the rate of death due to SIDS is likely due to a number of factors. These include a decrease in the number/proportion of women who are smoking during pregnancy, which is a known risk factor.1 It is also likely due to the increased practice of having babies sleep on their backs and breastfeeding, known to be protective factors.1