Paternal smoking and breastfeeding in Xinjiang, PR China

Breastfeeding Practices of Ethnic Minorities in China: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of 10,408 Mothers

Heterogeneous characteristics of Chinese ethnic groups and their acculturation might contribute to different breastfeeding patterns. This study aimed to explore the breastfeeding practices of ethnic minorities in China considering migration and acculturation. We included 10,408 mothers from a population-based study in China. Ethnic minority was defined as ethnics other than Han. Logistic regression and adjusted prevalence were employed to analyze the association between ethnicity and breastfeeding outcomes. Both Minority group (where both parents were ethnic minorities) had a higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding and predominant breastfeeding. After stratification, this significantly higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding was solely observed among local mothers (those who never immigrated). Husbands caring for mothers “sitting the month”, which could contribute to exclusive breastfeeding, was more common among local Both Minority group. Parental ethnicities and their acculturation could influence breastfeeding practices in China. Interventions should consider ethnic differences as well as acculturation.

Modifiable Individual Factors Associated with Breastfeeding: A Cohort Study in China

Breast milk is an ideal first food for infants in the initial months of life. This study aimed to identify modifiable individual factors in breastfeeding during the first six months of life in Hunan. This birth cohort study was conducted in three communities in Changsha, Hunan province. Data were collected through maternal health manuals and self-administered questionnaires during the follow-up period. To find risk factors and calculate odds ratios, generalized estimating equation models were applied. The final study included 951 mother-infant pairs. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding in this study was below the World Health Organization's breastfeeding goals. Infant age, passive smoking after delivery, minor postnatal depression, and feeding-bottles were shown to act negatively on both exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding. In addition, cesarean delivery and delayed breastfeeding initiation had adverse effects on exclusive breastfeeding. Multiparas were less likely to continue any breastfeeding during the first few months. This study highlights the importance of screening probable maternal depression during primary care service and reducing secondhand smoke and feeding-bottle use. The results also suggest that healthcare professionals should provide more assistance and education to multiparas and mothers with cesarean delivery or delayed breastfeeding initiation.

Children and E-Cigarettes: A New Threat to Health

The widespread availability and use of E-Cigarettes in many countries has established the need for an assessment of their effect on children. By the end of 2017 the number published annually on E-Cigarettes had increased to 2976 and included 171 papers on E-Cigarettes and children. The objective of this commentary is to provide a review and public health perspective on the effects of E-cigarettes on children. There are four public health questions to be answered:

1. Are E-Cigarettes and replenishing fluids toxic on accidental ingestion?

2. If children smoke E-Cigarettes is this harmful?

3. Does exposure to second hand vapour from E-Cigarettes cause harm to children?

4. Are children (adolescents) who use E Cigarettes more likely to begin smoking conventional cigarettes?

There were 2229 reported exposures to e-cigarette fluids and liquid nicotine in the USA in 2017 causing cardiovascular symptoms of varying severity. No deaths were reported although the potential is always there. Exposure to E-Cigarette vapor is less dangerous than cigarette smoke. However it does damage pulmonary endothelium in experimental models. No long term studies are yet available on chronic diseases although vapor does contain carcinogens. Adolescents who use E-Cigarettes are more likely to become tobacco smokers. Because of the accumulating evidence of harm to children great caution should be exercised in widening the public promotion and usage of E-Cigarettes. Children should avoid any contact with E-cigarettes or their vapour.

Effect of Secondary Cigarette Smoke from Household Members on Breastfeeding Duration: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Maternal smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke is one modifiable risk factor that affects breastfeeding initiation and duration. We prospectively examine the effects of maternal and paternal smoking and other family members' smoking status on the duration of breastfeeding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of 1,277 mother-infant pairs admitted to the postpartum units of four major public hospitals in Hong Kong. Demographic data, maternal, paternal and household smoking habits, and other potential confounding variables were collected via self-reported questionnaires during the postnatal hospitalization. Breastfeeding status after hospital discharge was assessed through telephone follow-up up to 12 months postpartum, or until participants were no longer breastfeeding. If the participant had weaned during that follow-up interval, she was asked to report the total duration (in weeks) of both any and exclusive breastfeeding.

RESULTS

A total of 1,240 (97%) mother-infant pairs completed followed up, 2.5% were smokers, 29.2% of their partners smoked, and 11.3% had another smoker living in their home. Maternal and other family members' smoking predicted breastfeeding cessation. When compared with mothers in nonsmoking family, those exposed to two or more family members who smoked had approximately a 30% increased risk of breastfeeding cessation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.31; 95% CI 1.01-1.68).

CONCLUSION

Mothers who were exposed to two or more smokers in the household had a significantly shorter duration of any breastfeeding at 12-month follow-up.

THE INFLUENCE OF PASSIVE TOBACCO EXPOSURE AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON BONE TISSUE OF YOUNG RATS

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of passive smoking during pregnancy and associated with swimming on bone area growth, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC).

METHODS

The offspring was grouped by control matrices (G1) and passive smokers (G2). The offspring was regrouped in eight subgroups, with exposure to smoking (2x/day) and physical exercise (1 session/day), respecting the group of matrices in: sedentary control (G1CS and G2CS), swimming control (G1CN and G2CN), sedentary passive smoker (G1FS and G2FS), and passive smoker swimmer (G1FN and G2FN). The area, BMD and BMC were measured by the tibia and femur and analyzed by densitometer. The results were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA test with Tukey post-test, with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

In the tibia BMC study, a better rate was observed in G2CN group when compared to G1CS, G1CN and G1FN (p ≤ 0.023). When assessing BMD in the femur, a higher density ratio was observed in G1FS group when compared to G2CS, G2CN, G2FS and G2FN (p<0.008). In the tibia study, the animals of the G1FS group had higher rates when compared to G2CS and G2FN groups (p≤0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

The model of male offspring exposed to passive smoking during fetal development showed a strong decrease in the analyzed parameters. Level of Evidence I, Randomized High Quality Clinical Trial With or Without Statistically Significant Difference, But Narrow Confidence Intervals.

Questioning current definitions for breastfeeding research

Background

The aim of this paper is to examine how breastfeeding is defined for research purposes.

Discussion

Current breastfeeding definitions focus on the amount of breast milk an infant receives and do not encompass how a baby is fed. Our concerns are that key variables are not measured when mothers are pumping or expressing their milk and bottle feeding. It seems the breastfeeding relationship is not considered in the definition.

Conclusion

While we appreciate the implications of full versus partial breastfeeding in research studies, we also believe the method of infant feeding to be significant. Researchers should develop new definitions.