A case-control study to examine the influence of maternal perinatal behaviors on the incidence of Crohn's disease.

This case-control study, which examines maternal perinatal characteristics and behaviors during pregnancy, was an initial step to determine whether an association exists between breast feeding, oral contraceptive use, smoking habits during pregnancy, and the incidence of Crohn's disease. The population studied was mothers whose children were diagnosed with Crohn's disease before the age of 22. Population controls were selected by each case mother, who solicited two friends or neighbors with a child of similar age. Case mothers differed significantly on the variables of allergies (p = .05) and family history of inflammatory bowel disease (p = .001). No significant differences were found regarding feeding, oral contraceptives, or smoking. Using a forward step-wise logistic regression method, only family history remained in the equation.