In a message dated 5/20/2006 10:38:42 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Is there  any data on child abuse in relation to infant feeding  method?


Dear Friends:
    Gonneke poses a lovely question.
    Besides Louise Acheson's study that did a  retrospective review of 800 
families, and found that the non-breastfeeding  families had more cases of 
family violence, Lane Strathearn presented a paper at  the 2003 AAP meeting.
 

7,695 dyads were followed prospectively over 14 years
 
Duration of breastfeeding and mother-infant separation as reported at 6  
months
 
Reported abuse events monitored
 

Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant Separation
4 or more months of  breastfeeding associated with significant reduction in 
abuse and neglect  (p<0.001)
 
Duration of breastfeeding inversely correlated with risk and severity of  
abuse (p<0.001)
Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant  Separation
Breastfeeding status and more than 20-hours of mother-infant  separation were 
independent predictors of child maltreatment. 
 
No breastfeeding and separated from mother more than 11  hours/week
GREATEST risk of child maltreatment  (p<0.001)
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As there are now studies from around the world showing that the  
Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is effective in extending exclusivity and  duration of 
breastfeeding, the BFHI is a fabulous low-cost public health  measure. When 
there is more bf, there are more infants that are healthy and less  child abuse.
 
warmly,

 
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, RLC, CCE
craniosacral  therapy practitioner
Faculty, Lactation Division Maternal-Infant Program,  Union Institute
Film Reviews Editor,  JHL
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com

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