Association Between Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Use and Breastfeeding Duration

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits to mothers and infants.
• Suboptimal breastfeeding duration is a public health concern.
• Factors influencing breastfeeding are well-studied, but the impact of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between prenatal electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use and breastfeeding duration.
• To identify potential risks associated with ENDS use during pregnancy on infant feeding practices.

Main Methods:

• Population-based, cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2016-2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (n=42,827).
• Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression.
• Adjusted for potential demographic, socioeconomic, biological, and behavioral confounders.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of prenatal ENDS use was 0.9%.
• Women using ENDS during pregnancy were less likely to breastfeed for at least 3 months (40.8%) compared to non-users (68.5%).
• Prenatal ENDS use was significantly associated with reduced odds of breastfeeding for at least 3 months (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44-0.89).

Conclusions:

• Prenatal exposure to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is negatively associated with breastfeeding duration.
• Screening for ENDS use during pregnancy is crucial for identifying at-risk mothers.
• Targeted support for ENDS-using pregnant women may improve breastfeeding outcomes.