In many countries where there is an indigenous or minority population, that group has a much higher crib death rate than the local European population. Why is this?
Crib death has a strong socio-economic bias, because less well-off parents are much more likely to use secondhand or previously used mattresses for their babies. Since, therefore, indigenous or minority populations are frequently in low income groups (e.g., Canadian Indians, Australian Aborigines, and Maori New Zealanders), these groups also have very high crib death rates. In addition, some indigenous or minority ethnic groups (e.g., Maori New Zealanders) traditionally bedshare with their babies, and adults’ mattresses are by definition re-used mattresses.
Related Questions
- Why must there be a local author in studies conducted in the developing world, and for research into the Indigenous population of any country?
- Does the policy permit a study population that contains only one gender or minority group or subpopulation?
- Why do babies of single parents have a very high crib death rate?
