title: Breastfeeding and infant hospitalisation: analysis of the UK 2010 Infant Feeding Survey.
abstract: To investigate the contributions of overall breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding in reducing the risk of hospitalisation for infectious causes, we analysed data from a three-stage survey on infant feeding practices and health outcomes in over 10 000 UK women in 2010-2011. The main outcome measures were risk of overnight hospital admission in the first 8-10 months of infancy. A graded beneficial effect was found between longer duration of any breastfeeding and hospital admission for infectious causes and for respiratory tract infections, with a significantly lower risk in infants breastfed for at least 3 months compared with those never breastfed. The effects were stronger in the subgroup who was also exclusively breastfed. For example, among infants breastfed for 3-6 months, the reduction in risk for infectious causes for those who were also exclusively breastfed for at least 6 weeks was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.22-0.81) and for those not exclusively breastfed for 6 weeks 0.79 (95% CI: 0.49-1.26). Likewise, among infants breastfed for 6 months or more, the odds ratio for those who were also exclusively breastfed for at least 6 weeks was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.32-0.72) and for those not exclusively breastfed for 6 weeks 0.72 (95% CI: 0.48-1.08). The apparent protective effect of any breastfeeding for a long duration may in part be driven by a prolonged period of exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding in the initial weeks after childbirth and continuing to breastfeed (either exclusively or partially) for at least 3 months, preferably 6 months, may reduce morbidity due to infectious illness in infants.
authors.affiliation: Oxford School of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.|National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Quigley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D009017:Morbidity; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breastfeeding; hospitalisation; infant feeding; infections; respiratory tract infections