Please forgive me if this is a reposting, I don't remember seeing it
posted to LN before:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R55F25307
AAP: Breastfeeding Status and Mother-Infant Separation Are Independent
Predictors of Maternal Maltreatment
By Jill Taylor
NEW ORLEANS, LA -- November 7, 2003 -- Breastfeeding and mother-infant
contact appear to have a protective influence on subsequent child abuse
and neglect, according a new study presented here on November 3rd at the
American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition.
In both human and animal studies, breastfeeding is associated with
blunted maternal stress reactivity and reduced levels of maternal
anxiety. Conversely, prolonged maternal separation appears to have an
inverse effect.
Hypothesizing that breastfeeding and maternal separation during the
first six months would be independent predictors of subsequent child
maltreatment, Lane Strathern, MBBS, of Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston, Texas, United States, performed a prospective study of 7,695
mothers and newborn infants from a public hospital over a period of 14
years.
The duration of breastfeeding and of mother-infant separation, as
reported at six months, were analysed with respect to substantiated
child maltreatment. Other controlled variables included child-related
factors such as birth weight, neonatal complications, and maternal
factors such as age, education, employment, marital status, income,
addictive behaviours, and anxiety or depression.
Overall, 277 children experienced one or more substantiated episodes of
maternally perpetrated maltreatment. Analysis showed that the risk of
maternal maltreatment increased with the length of separation but
decreased with breastfeeding duration.
Compared with infants breastfed for four or more months, non-breastfed
infants were 4.5 times more likely to experience substantiated
maltreatment, while infants separated from their mothers for more than
20 hours per week had an approximately three-fold increase in risk.
Additional perinatal predictors of maternal maltreatment included
unmarried cohabitation, single parent status, maternal anxiety,
socioeconomic factors, and addictive behaviours during pregnancy.
"A lot of people assume that it's the milk that is the key factor in
breastfeeding benefits, but that may not be the case. It may be more the
actual contingent interactions from day to day, hour to hour throughout
the day between the mother and the baby that makes the difference," Dr.
Strathern told Doctor's Guide. "I think we need to find out what the
facts are so that people can make wise decisions based on the evidence."
[Study title: Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant Separation: Independent
Predictors of Child Abuse and Neglect.]
Katherine Shealy, MPH, IBCLC, RLC
Public Health Breastfeeding Specialist
Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop K25
Atlanta, GA 30341
phone: 770 488 5449
fax: 770 488 5369
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/
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