Abstract
Objectives: Breastfeeding has a protective impact upon many diseases. However, limited evidence exists on the association between breastfeeding and childhood leukemia. Therefore we investigated this relationship among children attending King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective case-control study included children attending KAUH from 2008 to 2019. We compared 74 children diagnosed with leukemia with 148 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: Significantly longer breastfeeding duration occurred in cases (15 months) than in controls (12 months). Breastfeeding duration and pattern were not associated with reduced childhood leukemia risk. Antenatal exposure to pesticides and amphetamine consumption, intrapartum pain killer use, and child exposure to pesticides increased childhood leukemia prevalence. Higher socioeconomic status and higher level of parental education, preconception oral contraceptive pill use, supplemental folate use during pregnancy, and mothers' exposure to general anesthesia during delivery were associated with decreased childhood leukemia risks. Conclusion: Breastfeeding duration and practice were not associated with childhood leukemia, possibly because breastfeeding is widely practiced in Saudi Arabia. Future studies are needed to further explore the effects of breastfeeding on childhood leukemia.