The number of deaths attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has increased, new data has found. 

The provisional figures in this year's National Paediatric Mortality Register found that the rate of SIDs increased from 0.24 per 1,000 live births in 2019–2021, to 0.35 per 1,000 live births in 2022–2023.

‘Trauma’ incidents accounted for 20% of deaths among children aged one to 14 and rose to over half, 51%, among those aged 15 to 18. 

Within this group, 27% of those aged one to 14 died on the roads, while among those 15 to 18 the figure drops to 14%. 

Among children between one and 14, cancer accounted for one quarter, 25% of deaths, while among those aged between 15 to 18, the figure was 16%. 

Overall, 612 children died in Ireland in 2022 and 2023 - most of whom were babies; broken down by age, 363 of the children were under the age of one. 

145 were aged between one and 14, while 104 were teenagers who were between 15 and 18.

'A call to action'

Professor Michael Barrett said the annual report recommends further analysis of the data. 

“Among older children, trauma, including road traffic collisions and suspected self-harm, remains a leading cause of death, alongside slight increases in SIDS and infant mortality rates,” he said. 

“These figures represent children whose futures were cut short and families forever changed by loss. 

“This report is a call to action for policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to invest in systems that save lives.”

The report has urged the Government to introduce a centralised electronic data collection system to monitor child mortality. 

It also suggests there should be further research into the increase in SIDs and more investment in suicide prevention efforts.

Main image: A child's coffin. Picture by: Bernd Wuestneck/dpa/Alamy Live News.