A positive association between extended breast-feeding and nutritional status in rural Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional nutrition surveillance survey to determine the association between extended breast-feeding and growth. The sample consisted of 2148 initially breast-fed children between 12 and 47 mo of age. Breast-feeding for > 24 mo was associated with a greater height-for-age Z score, and breast-feeding for > 18 mo was associated with greater weight-for-age and weight-for-height Z scores. These results remained significant after the number of food groups being consumed at 12 mo of age, age when the selected food items were first given to a child, the consumption of powered milk, recent infections, age, sex, birth order, birth weight, county of residence, father's occupation, and mother's education were controlled for. These results suggest that extended breast-feeding in this population, in which food was introduced late in infancy, was associated with improved nutritional status as measured by standard anthropometric indicators.
Taren
D
D
University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tucson 85724.
Chen
J
J
D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population; D013997:Time Factors