PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Stordal, K
AU  - Lundeby, KM
AU  - Brantsæter, AL
AU  - Haugen, M
AU  - Lund-Blix, NA
TI  - O-086 Infections And The Duration Of Full Or Partial Breastfeeding; The Norwegian Mother And Child Cohort Study (moba)
AID  - 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307384.154
DP  - 2014 Oct 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - A57--A58
VI  - 99
IP  - Suppl 2
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/99/Suppl_2/A57.2.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/99/Suppl_2/A57.2.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child2014 Oct 01; 99
AB  - Background and aims Breastmilk contains factors important for immunity. However, the benefit of prolonged full breastfeeding for 4 compared to 6 months as infection prevention in an affluent society is unclear. Methods In a prospective birth cohort study recruiting from 1999–2008, questionnaires were completed at 6 and 18 months of age regarding infant diet and the occurrence and hospitalisation for infections. The study sample included 67 856 children (50.9% girls). Results After adjustments for maternal age, parity, sectio delivery, smoking, gender, birthweight, gestational age and daycare, hospitalisation for infections was similar for infants fully breastfed for 6 (14%, reference category) vs 4 (41%) months (adjusted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.77–1.00) but increased for never breastfed (aOR 1.41, 0.99–2.00) or partially breastfed <4 months (aOR 1.25, 1.06–1.47). Gastroenteritis was associated with no breastfeeding (aOR 1.77, 1.42–2.21), partial breastfeeding < 4 months (aOR 1.90, 1.72–2.09) or 4–6 months (aOR 1.33, 1.22–1.45). From 6 to 18 months the risk of hospitalisation for infection was higher for those who stopped any breastfeeding < 4 months (aOR 1.40, 1.25–1.57), 4–6 (aOR 1.29, 1.13–1.49) and for 6–8 months (aOR 1.11, 1.00–1.24), whereas similar risk was observed for breastfeeding 9–11 compared to breastfeeding ≥12 months. Conclusions Full breastfeeding for 6 months was associated with a reduction in hospitalisation for infections compared with absent or partial breastfeeding from <4 months, but not compared to full breastfeeding for 4 months. Reduced risk of hospitalisation was found with any breastfeeding up to 9 months’ age but not beyond.