title: Exclusive breastfeeding and its effect on growth of Malawian infants: results from a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For the optimal nutrition of children under 2 years of age, it is considered important that they be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months before being given complementary food.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A cross-sectional nutritional baseline survey was undertaken in 2011 in the Kasungu and Mzimba Districts of Malawi to assess the nutritional status of children under 2 years of age and its determinants in order to prepare a nutrition education intervention programme. The intention of this study was to assess the nutritional status of infants aged 0-<6 months with regard to food intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted on randomly selected families with children under 2 years; anthropometric measurements were obtained from mothers and their children. Only infants between 0 and <6 months were selected for analysis (n  =  196). An ANCOVA test was performed on age of the infant with mothers' height and weight as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of stunting (infants' length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) <-2SD) was 39%, wasting (WLZ <-2SD) 2%, and underweight (WAZ <-2SD) 13%. Of the infants under 6 months, 43% were exclusively breastfed. Predominant breastfeeding and mixed breastfeeding were less common (21% and 36%, respectively). The ANCOVA confirmed the association between exclusive breastfeeding and LAZ and WAZ: exclusively breastfed infants had a higher mean (SE) LAZ (-1.13, 0.12) and WAZ (-0.41, 0.13) than infants not being exclusively breastfed (-1.59, 0.11, and -0.97, 0.11, respectively). There was no overall significant association between breastfeeding practice and WLZ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exclusive breastfeeding of infants under 6 months is associated with higher mean LAZ and WAZ. Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in low-income countries is important in preventing growth retardation.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuchenbecker
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reinbott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jeremias
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muehlhoff
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mtimuni
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Krawinkel
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male
keywords: Child growth,; Exclusive breastfeeding,; LAZ,; Malawi