Reporting practices and sourcing of food images in fMRI research: implications for reproducibility.

Infant mortality, or the death of a live-born baby within their first year of life, is one of the most important indicators of a nation's health and wellbeing (). In England, the infant mortality rate was 3.9 deaths per 1,000 live births for eight consecutive reporting periods, but it increased to 4.1 per 1,000 in 2021–2023 (). Regional disparities were evident: the West Midlands had a rate of 5.9 per 1,000 live births, double that of the South West, which reported 2.9 per 1,000 (). In Leicester (East Midlands), the infant mortality rate was 7.7 per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than the national average of 4.1 per 1,000 during the same period. Significant disparities in infant mortality rates were also reported, with 6.8 per 1,000 for Black infants, 5.7 per 1,000 for Asian infants, and 3.1 per 1,000 for White British infants (). Infant deaths are concentrated in the neonatal period, where the leading causes include immaturity-related conditions/prematurity, congenital anomalies and antepartum infections; in 2023, immaturity-related conditions accounted for 51.7% of neonatal deaths, while congenital anomalies and antepartum infections together accounted for a further 40.2% (, ). Although not all causes of infant death are preventable, several associated risk factors are modifiable, including lack of breastfeeding, maternal smoking, unsafe sleep practices, domestic abuse and barriers to accessing health information, some of which are addressed through STORK (Supportive Training Offering Reassurance and Knowledge) topics (–). Public health educational interventions and programmes play a vital role in increasing parental knowledge and improving infant health outcomes (–). A well-documented and widely recognised example is the “Back to Sleep” campaign in the 1990s, which educated parents on placing babies on their backs to sleep. This simple message led to an 81% reduction in sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) rates in the UK over the following years (). In contrast, in the United States, where healthcare structures and safe sleep recommendations differ, a statewide hospital-based initiative demonstrated that providing educational materials such as sleep gowns, board books, and bassinets to Medicaid families improved adherence to recommended safe sleep practices (). Similarly, an evaluation of an educational programme addressing key determinants of infant mortality in Mississippi reported significant improvements in parental knowledge, skills, and behavioural intentions post-intervention (). An analysis of data from 1980 to 2015 in Indonesia found that maternal education programmes accounted for 15% of the decline in infant mortality, highlighting the critical role of educating mothers in improving child survival rates (). Furthermore, breastfeeding, supported by the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI), positively impacts multiple child health outcomes by reducing the risk of serious infections such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, which are also among the leading causes of infant mortality worldwide (, ). Despite existing educational interventions and programmes, infant mortality rates remain persistently high, with significant disparities still evident, suggesting limitations in their effectiveness or reach. Additionally, cultural beliefs may hinder the impact of parenting and health education initiatives (, , ). For example, a study found that despite receiving SIDS guidance, many mothers misinterpreted or ignored it based on cultural beliefs; Pakistani-origin mothers saw it as irrelevant, while white British mothers selectively adapted it (). Another study conducted with women in Mississippi found that participants viewed discussing topics like infant mortality as bad luck, which prevented them from applying what they had learned (i.e., health education messages), revealing a gap between knowledge and action (). These issues underscore the need for innovative, culturally responsive interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and action in reducing risks associated with infant mortality.