Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study

Lane Strathearn; Abdullah A Mamun; Jake M Najman; Michael J O'Callaghan

doi:10.1542/peds.2007-3546

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Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study

Lane Strathearn, Abdullah A Mamun, Jake M Najman and Michael J O'Callaghan

Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.123(2), pp.483-493

02/2009

DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-3546

PMCID: PMC2650825

PMID: 19171613

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Abstract

We explored whether breastfeeding was protective against maternally perpetrated child maltreatment. A total of 7223 Australian mother-infant pairs were monitored prospectively over 15 years. In 6621 (91.7%) cases, the duration of breastfeeding was analyzed with respect to child maltreatment (including neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse), on the basis of substantiated child protection agency reports. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare no maltreatment with nonmaternal and maternally perpetrated maltreatment and to adjust for confounding in 5890 cases with complete data (81.5%). Potential confounders included sociodemographic factors, pregnancy wantedness, substance abuse during pregnancy, postpartum employment, attitudes regarding infant caregiving, and symptoms of anxiety or depression. Of 512 children with substantiated maltreatment reports, >60% experienced > or =1 episode of maternally perpetrated abuse or neglect (4.3% of the cohort). The odds ratio for maternal maltreatment increased as breastfeeding duration decreased, with the odds of maternal maltreatment for nonbreastfed children being 4.8 times the odds for children breastfed for > or =4 months. After adjustment for confounding, the odds for nonbreastfed infants remained 2.6 times higher, with no association seen between breastfeeding and nonmaternal maltreatment. Maternal neglect was the only maltreatment subtype associated independently with breastfeeding duration. Among other factors, breastfeeding may help to protect against maternally perpetrated child maltreatment, particularly child neglect.

Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data

Prospective Studies

Humans

Breast Feeding

Child Abuse - prevention & control

Male

Young Adult

Time Factors

Adolescent

Maternal Behavior

Adult

Female

Infant, Newborn

Cohort Studies

Details

Title: Subtitle: Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study
Creators: Lane Strathearn - Department of Pediatrics, The Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. lanes@bcm.edu
Abdullah A Mamun
Jake M Najman
Michael J O'Callaghan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.123(2), pp.483-493
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-3546
PMID: 19171613
PMCID: PMC2650825
NLM abbreviation: Pediatrics
ISSN: 0031-4005
eISSN: 1098-4275
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics; United States
Grant note: K23 HD043097 / NICHD NIH HHS K23 HD043097-05 / NICHD NIH HHS K23 HD43097 / NICHD NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 02/2009
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Record Identifier: 9984040266302771

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