INFANT-FEEDING PRACTICES IN GERMANY - RES ULTS OF THE MULTICENTER COHORT STUDY ON ATOPIC DISEASES

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 (to 6) months is recommended for all infants, especially for those with a family histor y of atopic disease. The present study evaluates to what extent parent s adhere to these recommendations. Methods: Of all term infants, born in 1990 in 6 German hospitals, 1314 were enrolled in a controlled, pro spective, multicenter cohort study on atopic diseases. 38% of them bel onged to a high risk group, 62% were recruited at random from the rema ining newborns. Food protocols in the newborn nursery, and a protocol aided, structured interview as well as a questionnaire on current feed ing habits and on feeding history taken from the mothers at 1, 3, 6 an d 12 months after birth, were the basis for the evaluation. Results: 4 9% of the newborns had received formula supplements in the newborn nur sery. 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 brea st fed. During the first days of life the newborn nursery significantl y influenced the extent to which formula was used. Later on the educat ion of the mother was most influential on the introduction of solid fo ods or wether exclusive breastfeeding was continued during the first t hree months of life. Feeding habits were significantly different in mo thers or fathers with and without atopic disease in their history. Thi s was most obvious regarding the use of hydrolysate formulas in the ne wborn nursery and regarding the introduction of solid foods during the first three months of life. By using multilinear logistic modelling t o explain the duration of breastfeeding, it could be shown, that beiko st in the first three months of life, educational status of the mother , formula feeding in the newborn nursery, passive smoking, atopic dise ase in close family members, and the study centers were significant co ntributors to breastfeeding duration (p<0.001). Conclusions: Recommend ations for infant nutrition should also reach the less educated mother s. Breast feeding and allergy prevention strategies, especially in hig h risk infants, should be promoted.