BREAST-FEEDING AND INGUINAL-HERNIA

A case-control study was conducted to study the association between br east-feeding and inguinal hernia. The case group was significantly les s often breast fed than control subjects (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confid ence interval, 0.29 to 0.83) and exclusive breast-feeding was associat ed with a significant dose-response risk reduction. The association wa s not confounded by birth weight, maternal education, type of birth, n umber of other children in the family, or gender. Breast-feeding may r epresent a protective factor against inguinal hernia.