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Breast-feeding and weight change in newborns in Jamaica
P E Jolly1, M Humphrey, B Y Irons
1Department of International Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-0022, USA.
Insights
Exclusively breast-fed infants in Jamaica showed significant weight gain in the first 24 days of life. Key factors influencing this infant weight change included birth weight and maternal characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal Care
- Human Nutrition
Background:
- Early infant weight change is a critical indicator of neonatal health.
- Understanding factors influencing weight gain in exclusively breast-fed infants is essential for optimal infant nutrition.
- Limited data exists on early infant weight dynamics in Jamaica.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine weight change in exclusively breast-fed infants during the first week and 24 days of life.
- To evaluate the impact of maternal characteristics and breast-feeding practices on infant weight gain.
- To identify predictors of early infant weight change in a Jamaican cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 21 exclusively breast-fed infants in Jamaica.
- Serial infant weight measurements recorded on days 1, 3, 7, 10, 17, and 24.
- Multiple linear regression analysis to identify significant predictors of weight gain by day 24.
Main Results:
- All infants demonstrated weight gain over the 24-day study period.
- Significant weight gain was observed by day 7 (P < 0.05) and day 24 (P < 0.01) compared to birth weight.
- Predictors of significant weight gain by day 24 included higher birth weight, mother's education, feeding duration, and absence of infant crying before feeding.
Conclusions:
- Exclusively breast-fed infants in Jamaica exhibit healthy weight gain patterns in early life.
- Maternal educational level, birth weight, and specific feeding behaviors significantly influence infant weight gain.
- Findings provide valuable insights for supporting optimal infant nutrition and growth in the region.
Abstract:
This study was conducted to examine weight change of exclusively breast-fed infants during the first week and through the first 24 days of life, and to evaluate the effect of breast-feeding factors and maternal characteristics on early weight change in the infants. The weights of 21 infants were recorded on day 1 (day of birth), and on days 3, 7, 10, 17, and 24, and the data analysed to evaluate weight change over the period. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess whether birth weight as well as maternal and breast-feeding factors were significant predictors of weight on day 24. Nineteen of the 21 infants gained weight between days 1 and 3, and 20 infants gained weight between days 3 and 7. All infants gained weight over the 24-day period and their weights at day 7 and day 24 were significantly different (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) from their birth weights. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that significant (P < 0.01) predictors of weight gain by day 24 included birth weight, mother's educational level, whether the baby cried before feeding, and length of feeding time periods. This is the first study of weight change in the early days and weeks of life of exclusively breast-fed newborn infants in Jamaica. The infants showed significant weight gain during the study period and weight gain was affected by certain maternal and breast-feeding factors.