Breastfeeding Versus Bottle Feeding and Risk of Bronchial Asthma in Children in Tabuk Area, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder, particularly among children in Saudi Arabia, with an increasing global prevalence. Limited epidemiological studies in the region indicate variable asthma rates, potentially influenced by factors such as modernization and environmental changes. Given the potential health benefits of breastfeeding, it is critical to investigate the relationship between type of feeding, and asthma risk. This study aims to assess the relationship between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding practices and the risk of developing asthma, as well as to evaluate how breastfeeding practices influence the severity of asthma among children in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among children with bronchial asthma at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The study took place from June to August 2023 using convenient sampling. Data were collected through a validated, structured web-based questionnaire distributed to the parents of children with bronchial asthma. The analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Results The study comprised 103 participants, of whom 66 (64.1%) were breastfed. There was no significant association between the severity of asthma and breastfeeding practices, including the initiation time, duration, or the age at which formula milk was introduced, as well as the combination of breastfeeding with bottle feeding. However, paternal smoking was significantly associated with asthma (p = 0.003), with 78.5% of children with smoking fathers affected compared to 50% of those without smoking fathers. In the multivariate analysis, having a father employed in the health sector (p = 0.040) and a maternal age over 35 years (p = 0.026) were significantly associated with an increased risk of asthma. Other factors, such as the child's age, gender, birth order, monthly income, parental education, family size, type of accommodation, and maternal diet during pregnancy, did not demonstrate significant associations with asthma. Conclusion Our study underscores the significant role of paternal smoking and specific parental sociodemographic factors, such as having a father employed in the health sector and maternal age over 35 years, in influencing the risk of childhood asthma. While breastfeeding practices, including duration and method, were not significantly associated with asthma severity, understanding these key risk factors can aid in developing targeted interventions for asthma prevention and management.