The effect of duration of breast feeding on the occurrence of acute otitis media in children under three years.
A case control study of 140 children below the age of three years with acute otitis media was conducted to study the short duration of breast feeding as a risk factor. 83% of the patients experienced the first attack of acute otitis media during infancy. 25% of them were breastfed for less than six months compared to only 10% in the control group. The mean duration of breast feeding was significantly shorter in the study group 8.6 months (sd = 7.9) as compared to the control group 13.7 months (sd = 6.5); p < 0.001 (t = 5.9). Thus short duration of breast feeding is a risk factor of acute otitis media in early childhood.
Shaaban
K M
KM
Department of Community Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Hamadnalla
I
I
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors