WIE WERDEN SAUGLINGE IN DEUTSCHLAND ERNAHRT? ERGEBNISSE AUS DER MULTIZENTRISCHE ALLERGIESTUDIE AM GEBURTSJAHRGANG 1990

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 (to 6) months is recommended for all infants, especially for those with a family history of atopic disease. The present study evaluates to what extent parents adhere to these recommendations. Methods: Of all term infants, born in 1990 in 6 German hospitals, 1314 were enrolled in a controlled, prospective, multicenter cohort study on atopic diseases. 38% of them belonged to a high risk group, 62% were recruited at random from the remaining newborns. Food protocols in the newborn nursery, and a protocol aided, structured interview as well as a questionnaire on current feeding habits and on feeding history taken from the mothers at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after birth, were the basis for the evaluation. Results: 49% of the newborns had received formula supplements in the newborn nursery. 53% had consumed solid foods in their first three months of life. By the age of 3 months only 28% of the infants were exclusively breastfed. During the first days of life the newborn nursery significantly influenced the extent to which formula was used. Later on the education of the mother was most influential on the introduction of solid foods or whether exclusive breastfeeding was continued during the first three months of life. Feeding habits were significantly different in mothers or fathers with and without atopic disease in their history. This was most obvious regarding the use of hydrolysate formulas in the newborn nursery and regarding the introduction of solid foods during the first three months of life. By using multilinear logistic modelling to explain the duration of breastfeeding, it could be shown, that beikost in the first three months of life, educational status of the mother, formula feeding in the newborn nursery, passive smoking, atopic disease in close family members, and the study centers were significant contributors to breastfeeding duration (p≤0.001). Conclusions: Recommendations for infant nutrition should also reach the less educated mothers. Breast feeding and allergy prevention strategies, especially in high risk infants, should be promoted.