Abstract
This research reports the results from random probability surveys conducted in Bexar County, Texas during June 2001 and October 2002. Data were gathered as part of an evaluation of the Any Baby Can organization's efforts to push Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) into the center of the public's attention. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a term used to describe the constellation of signs and symptoms resulting from violent shaking or shaking and impacting of the head of an infant or small child (The National Center for SBS 2003:2). Any Baby Can (ABC) started its SBS campaign in 1996 with a grant from Children's Trust Fund of Texas, an organization heavily involved in the prevention of child abuse. Survey results are mixed. On the one hand, findings suggest that groups, like Any Baby Can, can provide a valuable service to the community relative to SBS, evidenced by the very high percentage of respondents across all demographic categories that disagreed with the view that “a mild shaking of a child” is as an acceptable form of disciplining a child and the improved knowledge in the community of SBS. On the other hand, despite these improvements, analyses also suggest there is more work to be done. Many people still need to know that SBS can be caused by “even mildly shaking a baby.” Notable percentages of respondents (15%-25%, depending on demographic group) perceived “a mild shaking” of a child as an acceptable manner of discipline. Furthermore, the SBS message should be transmitted in Spanish as well as in English, especially in communities where portions of their populations are from Mexico or other Spanish-speaking countries.
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