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Infant feeding and risk of severe diarrhoea in Basrah city, Iraq: a case-control study

D A Mahmood, R G Feachem, S R Huttly

    Bulletin of the World Health Organization
    |January 1, 1989
    PubMed

    Insights

    Bottle-feeding significantly increases infant diarrhea hospitalization risk, especially exclusive bottle-feeding. Breastfeeding, alone or with food, is the safest feeding mode for infants aged 2-11 months.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Public Health
    • Epidemiology

    Background:

    • Infant feeding practices are critical determinants of child health.
    • Diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality globally.
    • Understanding the impact of feeding modes on diarrheal disease risk is essential for public health interventions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the association between infant feeding modes and the risk of hospitalized diarrhea.
    • To compare the risks associated with exclusive breastfeeding, partial breastfeeding, and bottle-feeding in infants aged 2-11 months.

    Main Methods:

    • A case-control study was conducted in Basrah city involving 597 infants hospitalized with diarrhea (cases) and 723 healthy controls.
    • Data on feeding modes and other potential confounding variables were collected and analyzed.
    • Statistical analysis controlled for confounding factors to assess the relative risks associated with different feeding practices.

    Main Results:

    • For infants aged 2-5 months, exclusive breastfeeding or breastfeeding with food showed the lowest risk of diarrhea hospitalization.
    • Bottle-feeding was associated with significantly higher risks, with odds ratios of 55 (2-3 months) and 37 (4-5 months) compared to exclusive breastfeeding.
    • For older infants (6-11 months), non-breastfeeding, particularly exclusive bottle-feeding, posed a significant risk, while partial breastfeeding modes showed similar risks.

    Conclusions:

    • Bottle-feeding is a major risk factor for hospitalized diarrhea in infants, especially in younger age groups.
    • Breastfeeding, whether exclusive or partial, offers significant protection against severe diarrheal disease.
    • Public health strategies should promote and support breastfeeding to reduce the burden of infant diarrhea.

    Keywords:
    Arab CountriesAsiaBiologyBottle FeedingBreast FeedingCase StudiesControl GroupsData AnalysisData CollectionDeveloping CountriesDiarrheaDiarrhea, Infantile--etiologyDiarrhea, Infantile--prevention and controlDiseasesEconomic FactorsHealthHygieneIncidenceInfant NutritionIraqMeasurementNutritionPublic HealthResearch MethodologyRisk FactorsSocioeconomic FactorsStudiesWestern Asia

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