The Lack of an Association of Breastfeeding with the Development of Childhood Intussusception: A Nationwide Birth Cohort Survey in Japan

Abstract

Background:

This study investigated the association between feeding practices and the development of childhood intussusception.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted secondary data analyses using the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st Century in Japan. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the association between feeding practice and intussusception development in children aged between 6 and 18 months. We used the following variables as potential confounders: gender, gestational age, birth weight, singleton or multiple births, parity, maternal age at delivery, maternal smoking status, and paternal smoking status. Furthermore, we performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the association between breastfeeding duration and intussusception development.

Results:

In total, 31,802 children were analyzed in this study. The annual incidence of intussusception was 1.6 cases per 1,000 children aged between 6 and 18 months. No significant association was found between exclusive breastfeeding and the development of intussusception, compared with exclusive formula feeding (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.32–30.0). Furthermore, no significant association was observed between breastfeeding duration and intussusception development.

Conclusions:

Our findings demonstrated no association between breastfeeding and the development of childhood intussusception.