Ashton Porter

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Country: USA
Background:  Political Science
 
Research Project: Infant Feeding Methods and Children’s Chronic Respiratory Illness Outcomes in Ireland: Is there an Association?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not there is an association between infant feeding methods and chronic respiratory illness in children in Ireland. The study also aimed to find if an association was dose-dependent (i.e. influenced by breastfeeding duration).

Methods: A quantitative method was used to examine secondary data from the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study. SPSS (PAWS) version 18 was employed to analyze the variables of breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration in relation to chronic illness and chronic respiratory illness in the 9-year-old GUI cohort. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square independence tests. 

Results/Conclusions: The study concluded that a statistically significant association between infant feeding method (breastfeeding) and chronic respiratory illness did not exist. The study failed to reject the null hypothesis that breastfeeding and chronic respiratory illness are independent. In turn, dose-response analysis was not conducted, as this second hypothesis was dependent on the first holding true.

Word Count: 10,390

Keywords: infant feeding, breastfeeding, chronic respiratory illness, asthma, Growing Up in Ireland Study