Table 2

Percentage (n) with asthma by infant feeding category and parental asthma status

TotalNever BF Exclusive BF
<4 months
Exclusive BF
⩾4 months
Total group14.4% (133/926)12.2% (18/147)13.5% (60/445)16.5% (55/334)
Maternal asthma2-150 30.3% (30/99) 9.1% (1/11)23.5% (12/51)45.9% (17/37)
No maternal asthma 12.4% (101/816)11.4% (15/132)12.3% (48/390)12.9% (38/294)
Paternal asthma22.3% (25/112)26.1% (6/23)16.0% (8/50)28.2% (11/39)
No paternal asthma13.0% (99/761) 9.7% (11/113)12.3% (45/367)15.3% (43/281)
  • BF = breast feeding.

  • 2-150 χ2 = 7.74; p<0.05, trend χ2 p<0.005.