Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding is not likely to be cost effective in West Africa. A randomized intervention study from Guinea-Bissau.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of promotion of exclusive breastfeeding on infant health in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, where mortality rates are high, breastfeeding is widely practiced but exclusive breastfeeding is rare.


METHODS
At the Bandim Health Project in Guinea Bissau, West Africa, a birth cohort of 1721 infants were randomized to receive health education: promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months of life according to WHO recommendations at the time of the study. All children were followed from birth to 6 months of age.


RESULTS
Introduction of both water and weaning food was significantly delayed in the intervention group. However we found no beneficial health effects of the intervention; there was no reduction in mortality in the intervention group compared with the control group (mortality rate ratio: 1.86 (0.79-4.39)), weight at 4-6 months of age was significantly lower in the intervention group (7.10 kg vs. 7.25 kg; Wilcoxon two-sample test: p=0.03). There was no difference in diarrhoea morbidity and hospitalization rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Although mothers were sensitive to follow new breastfeeding recommendations, it had no beneficial impact on infant health in this society with traditional, intensive breastfeeding. There seems to be little reason to discourage local practices as long as there are no strong data justifying such a change.
Jakobsen
Marianne S
MS
Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Apartado 861, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. mariann.jakobsen@dadlnet.dk
Sodemann
Morten
M
Biai
Sidu
S
Nielsen
Jens
J
Aaby
Peter
P
D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology; D006169:Guinea-Bissau; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014886:Weaning