Risk Factors for Discontinuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding by One Month of Postnatal Age Among High Risk Newborns: An Institution Based Case Control Study.
BACKGROUND
Beyond one month of age, there is generally a drop in the proportion of mothers providing exclusive breastfeeding to their infants. Infants with morbidities during neonatal period have been observed to be at higher risk of discontinuation.


OBJECTIVE
To enumerate the prevalent factors behind discontinuation of breastfeeding among high risk newborns by first month of life.


METHODS
A case control study conducted at high risk newborn followup clinic of a teaching medical institute in northern India between January and May 2013. Infants were divided on the basis of continuation (controls) or discontinuation (cases) of exclusive breastfeeding at one month of age. The socio-demographic factors along with maternal and neonatal medical factors were compared among groups.


RESULTS
During the study period, 112 newborns were screened. Forty seven cases and thirty eight controls were enrolled and finally evaluated. Female gender of newborn, less educated mothers and large families were observed to be associated with discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding during first month of life among high risk newborns. Requirement of parenteral fluids during hospital stay emerged as the only independent medical reason.


CONCLUSIONS
As in healthy newborns, the socio-cultural factors overshadow the medical reasons for discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding during first month of life among high risk newborns.
Undergraduate Student, Department of Paediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
Parul
P
Chandrika
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
Bhanu Kiran
BK
Bhakhri
Senior Professor & Head, Department of Paediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
Geeta
G
Gathwala
Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
Varun
V
Narwal
Medical Intern, Department of Paediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
Abhishek
A
Chaturvedi
Breast milk; Infant nutrition; Prematurity