Participation of disadvantaged parents in child care research 

Researchers from the Department of Child Health at the University of Leicester, headed by Dr Michael Wailoo, have reported  that deprived, inner-city families and socially dysfunctional families are able and willing to participate in research projects designed to improve child health and safety.

This is an important observation because it is children in such families who are at the greatest risk of adverse events, including SIDS.

Before 1991, around half (47%) of SIDS deaths took place in socially and economically deprived families, but now the majority (74%) of deaths occur in this section of society. What’s more, before 1991, 57% of deaths affected infants born to mothers who smoked but that figure has now risen to 86%. There is therefore a great need to communicate advice on safe child care to the most deprived sections of the population.


This research is published in: Joseph D, Wailoo MP, Jackson A, Petersen SA, Anderson ES. Participation of disadvantaged parents in child care research. Child Care Health Dev 2005; 31(5):581-7.