Material Appropriation for Infant Mortality Reduction: Troubling the discourse

Debbie Watson; James Reid

doi:10.1177/13591835211049042

Material Appropriation for Infant Mortality Reduction: Troubling the discourse

Debbie Watson, James Reid

University of Bristol

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Reducing the risk of Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is a priority for infant health care services across the globe. Medical knowledge of risk factors for SUDI are well understood and have been part of public health messaging in the UK since the 1990s. These include the ‘back to sleep’ campaign that focused on newborn sleep position, not over wrapping the infant and to avoid passive smoke. Whilst progress has been made in reducing SUDI deaths worldwide, there are some infants who remain at high risk. This article adopts a sociomaterial lens to address the potential for material-based interventions to support messages to be tailored in culturally appropriate ways that do not negate parenting knowledge and practices. We focus on the proliferation of the ‘baby box’ as an example of material appropriation and consider the risks and the potentials for this object as a participant in parenting practices.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	107-123
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Material Culture
Volume	27
Issue number	2
Early online date	8 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/13591835211049042
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1177/13591835211049042Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "Reducing the risk of Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is a priority for infant health care services across the globe. Medical knowledge of risk factors for SUDI are well understood and have been part of public health messaging in the UK since the 1990s. These include the {\textquoteleft}back to sleep{\textquoteright} campaign that focused on newborn sleep position, not over wrapping the infant and to avoid passive smoke. Whilst progress has been made in reducing SUDI deaths worldwide, there are some infants who remain at high risk. This article adopts a sociomaterial lens to address the potential for material-based interventions to support messages to be tailored in culturally appropriate ways that do not negate parenting knowledge and practices. We focus on the proliferation of the {\textquoteleft}baby box{\textquoteright} as an example of material appropriation and consider the risks and the potentials for this object as a participant in parenting practices.",

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AU - Watson, Debbie

AU - Reid, James

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PY - 2022/6/1

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N2 - Reducing the risk of Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is a priority for infant health care services across the globe. Medical knowledge of risk factors for SUDI are well understood and have been part of public health messaging in the UK since the 1990s. These include the ‘back to sleep’ campaign that focused on newborn sleep position, not over wrapping the infant and to avoid passive smoke. Whilst progress has been made in reducing SUDI deaths worldwide, there are some infants who remain at high risk. This article adopts a sociomaterial lens to address the potential for material-based interventions to support messages to be tailored in culturally appropriate ways that do not negate parenting knowledge and practices. We focus on the proliferation of the ‘baby box’ as an example of material appropriation and consider the risks and the potentials for this object as a participant in parenting practices.

AB - Reducing the risk of Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is a priority for infant health care services across the globe. Medical knowledge of risk factors for SUDI are well understood and have been part of public health messaging in the UK since the 1990s. These include the ‘back to sleep’ campaign that focused on newborn sleep position, not over wrapping the infant and to avoid passive smoke. Whilst progress has been made in reducing SUDI deaths worldwide, there are some infants who remain at high risk. This article adopts a sociomaterial lens to address the potential for material-based interventions to support messages to be tailored in culturally appropriate ways that do not negate parenting knowledge and practices. We focus on the proliferation of the ‘baby box’ as an example of material appropriation and consider the risks and the potentials for this object as a participant in parenting practices.

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KW - SUDI

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KW - culturally appropriate

KW - Baby boxes

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JF - Journal of Material Culture

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Material Appropriation for Infant Mortality Reduction: Troubling the discourse

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Material Appropriation for Infant Mortality Reduction: Troubling the discourse

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UN SDGs

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