RT Article
T1 Breastfeeding Duration and Reported Child Maltreatment in a Population-based Alaskan Birth Cohort
JF Journal of family violence
VO 37
IS 7
SP 1137
OP 1146
A1 Hutchins, Helena J.
A1 Harley, Kim G.
A1 Wallenborn, Jordyn T.
A1 Abrams, Barbara Lise
A1 Reno, Rebecca
A1 Parrish, Jared W.
A2 Harley, Kim G.
A2 Wallenborn, Jordyn T.
A2 Abrams, Barbara Lise
A2 Reno, Rebecca
A2 Parrish, Jared W.
LA English
YR 2022
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1816391999
AB Research suggests that breastfeeding may reduce child maltreatment risk. Alaska has high rates of both breastfeeding initiation and maltreatment reports to Child Protective Services (CPS). The present study assessed any and exclusive breastfeeding duration and child maltreatment reports to CPS among Alaskan mother-infant dyads, controlling for demographics and shared risk factors. We used a prospective, population-representative dataset linking 2009–2011 Alaska Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data with 2009–2016 Alaska CPS and administrative state data (n = 3,459). Breastfeeding duration was derived from PRAMS breastfeeding questions and categorized as never, < 1 weeks, 1—9 weeks, and ≥ 10 weeks. Age at first report of maltreatment to Alaska CPS included physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or mental injury. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for confounders. There was no increase in risk of maltreatment report among children never breastfed compared to those breastfed for ≥ 10 weeks. Risk of maltreatment report during the observation period was 1.7 times as high among children breastfed for < 1 week (CI: 1.06, 2.73), and 1.5 times as high among those breastfed for 1–9 weeks (CI: 1.17, 1.80), compared to those breastfed for ≥ 10 weeks. Estimates were attenuated for exclusive breastfeeding. Feeding method did not predict maltreatment reports in this population. Among mothers who initiated breastfeeding, shorter duration was associated with elevated risk of maltreatment reports. Addressing factors that facilitate or prohibit sustained breastfeeding may reduce risk of child maltreatment reports.
K1 Alaska
K1 protective factors
K1 risk factors
K1 Breastfeeding
K1 Child Maltreatment
DO 10.1007/s10896-021-00327-9