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Breastfeeding reduces risk of child abuse

ere are many physical and psychological bene ts of breastfeeding, and new research indicates that it may even help to curtail child abuse. A recent

-year study of more than ,

Australian mother-infant pairs concludes that “breastfeeding may help to protect against maternally perpetrated child maltreatment, particularly child neglect.”

e study took into

consideration the in uence
of higher rates of abuse
mothers, the higher the risk for child
associated with mothers with limited
abuse. Children with zero breastfeeding
social support networks, of young
relationship had the highest risk: e
maternal age, and factors such as
odds that nonbreastfed children would
unplanned pregnancy, low education,
experience abuse were nearly four
poverty, and parental anxiety and
times those of children who had been
depression. In the study, the less
breastfed for at least four months.

children were breastfed by their

Of the total number of mother-infant
pairs in the study, percent
of infants were breastfed for at
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were breastfed for less than
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Rates of breastfeeding were
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highest among those with
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the lowest rates of abuse and
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e study’s authors
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conclude, “Although it is
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abundantly clear that
breastfeeding duration is
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only one of many factors
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associated with maternal
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abuse and neglect, this study
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Protect Against Sub-

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Strathearn et al., was
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published in the February
—W. P.

issue of Pediatrics.