Exclusive breastfeeding: protective efficacy.
A longitudinal study of feeding practices of and morbidity in 537 infants was undertaken. Feeding practices were assessed at monthly follow-up visits. All infants were initially exclusively breastfed but their percentage dropped to 59.8% and 35.3% at the end of 3 months and 6 months respectively. Exclusively breastfed babies were three-times less likely to fall sick than artificially fed babies. Exclusive breastfeeding was also associated with significantly lowered rate of serious illnesses as shown by fewer rate of hospitalisation (0.52/100 children months vs 4.5/100 children months). Premature introduction of supplementary feeding diluted the protective effects of breastmilk.
Kasla
R R
RR
Department of Pediatrics, Dr. R.N. Cooper Hospital, Juhu, Bombay.
Bavdekar
S B
SB
Joshi
S Y
SY
Hathi
G S
GS
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends*; D012016:Reference Values