ABSTRACT
In describing shaken baby syndrome (SBS), Caffey (1972) concluded that, "The wide practice of habitual whiplash-shaking ... warrants a massive nationwide educational campaign to alert everyone responsible for the welfare of infants on its potential and actual pathogenicity" (p. 163). Yet, for nearly 15 years, very little was done in the way of prevention (Dykes, 1986), although numerous physicians and researchers supported the recommendation (Caffey, 1974; Curran, 1984; Eagan, Whelan-Williams, & Brooks, 1985; Ludwig & Warman, 1984; Showers & Apolo, 1986; Showers, Apolo, Thomas, & Beavers, 1985). While isolated local efforts to prevent SBS were initiated in the mid-1980's, an effort to begin or expand shaken baby syndrome prevention programming throughout the United States was not begun until 1992. Reasons for this rest primarily with issues of denial and a historical predilection in the United States toward intervention over prevention as it relates to child abuse.
