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Effect of breastfeeding on head circumference of children from impoverished communities

Haroldo da Silva Ferreira1, Antonio Fernando Silva Xavier Júnior, Monica Lopes de Assunção

  • 1Laboratory of Basic and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. haroldo.ufal@gmail.com

Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
|February 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months significantly improved head circumference in vulnerable children. This finding highlights the importance of prolonged exclusive breastfeeding for infant development in impoverished communities.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Head circumference (HC) is a key indicator of infant growth and neurological development.
  • Impoverished communities often face challenges that can impact child development, including nutritional deficiencies.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for optimal infant health but its impact on HC in vulnerable populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between exclusive breastfeeding duration and head circumference (HC) deficit in children from impoverished communities.
  • To determine if prolonged exclusive breastfeeding offers a protective effect against HC deficit in socially vulnerable children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 725 children aged 12-60 months from quilombo communities in Alagoas, Brazil.
  • Head circumference deficit defined as a z-score < -2 based on WHO growth standards.
  • Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate prevalence ratios, adjusting for confounding variables.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of head circumference deficit was 13.3% in children exclusively breastfed for <30 days, decreasing to 5.8% for those exclusively breastfed for ≥120 days.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months was associated with a reduced risk of head circumference deficit (Prevalence Ratio: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.99), even after adjusting for confounders.
  • A statistically significant protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months on head circumference deficit was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of four months is associated with larger head circumference in children from socially vulnerable and impoverished settings.
  • Promoting prolonged exclusive breastfeeding can be a key strategy to improve head circumference and support healthy development in at-risk populations.
  • Findings underscore the critical role of nutrition and early life practices in mitigating developmental challenges in resource-limited environments.
Abstract

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