Impact of Maternal Smoking on the Onset of Breastfeeding versus Formula Feeding: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Carolina Lechosa Muñiz,María Paz-Zulueta,María Jesús Cabero Pérez,María Madrazo Pérez,María Sáez De Adana,Elsa Cornejo Del Río,Sonia Mateo Sota

doi:10.3390/ijerph16244888

Abstract

This study sought to estimate the prevalence of maternal smoking and its association with exclusive breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. A cross-sectional study was performed on postpartum women at a public hospital in Spain, between January and August 2018. The main variables studied were their age, level of study, smoking habits, and chosen mode of infant feeding. In total, 948 postpartum women were included. Of these, 12.45% were smokers who smoked a mean of 7.23 cigarettes/day. Among the group of smokers, the probability of feeding the newborns with formula milk was multiplied by 2.32 ([95%CI 1.50–3.58] p < 0.001). When stratifying tobacco use into mild, moderate and severe, we found a statistically significant dose–response pattern. These associations and their statistical significance were maintained when adjusting by age and level of study. In conclusion, in the group of postpartum mothers who smoked, the probability of feeding the newborns with formula milk doubled. Our data highlight the need to improve health education programs in women of childbearing age, especially during pregnancy.

Highlights

The World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months, and continued breastfeeding combined with solid foods for 2 years or more, for as long as the mother and baby desire [1,2].In Spain, according to the National Health Survey of 2017 [3], 74% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 weeks
In Cantabria, the results of the Cantabrian Health Survey of 2006 (ESCAN-06) [7] reveal that maternal breastfeeding progressively decreases from birth until 6 months, at which point infants are
In the group of smoking women, the probability of feeding newborns with formula milk was multiplied by 2.32 ([95% confidence intervals (95% CI), 1.50–3.58] p < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

In Spain, according to the National Health Survey of 2017 [3], 74% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 weeks. An important decrease subsequently occurs at 6 months, when only 39% of mothers breastfeed. These data demonstrate that the current national rates of breastfeeding continue to be below the recommendations of both national and international organizations [4,5,6]. In Cantabria, the results of the Cantabrian Health Survey of 2006 (ESCAN-06) [7] reveal that maternal breastfeeding progressively decreases from birth until 6 months, at which point infants are. Public Health 2019, 16, 4888; doi:10.3390/ijerph16244888 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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