Breastfeeding Duration and Adolescent Educational Outcomes: Longitudinal Evidence From India
Arindam Nandi1,2, Randall Lutter3,4, Ramanan Laxminarayan5,6
11 Tata Centre for Development, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin
|October 6, 2017
Summary
Longer breastfeeding duration in India showed small educational gains for boys, but no significant benefits for girls. This highlights a need for further research into gender-specific impacts of breastfeeding on child development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited evidence exists on the long-term educational benefits of extended breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries.
- Understanding these benefits is crucial for informing public health policies and interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the association between breastfeeding duration and educational outcomes in Indian children.
- To investigate potential sex-based differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Regression analysis was used on two datasets: Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents Study (APCAPS) and India Human Development Survey (IHDS-2).
- APCAPS included 1165 children (aged 13-18 years) from a South Indian nutrition trial.
- IHDS-2 comprised 6121 children (aged 6-12 years) from nationally representative data.
Main Results:
- In APCAPS, children breastfed for >36 months scored 0.28 points higher on tests than those breastfed for up to 12 months.
- IHDS-2 data indicated that above-median breastfeeding duration was linked to 0.1 year higher educational attainment.
- Longer breastfeeding durations (>12-24 months and >24 months) were associated with increased educational attainment, primarily benefiting boys.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding duration showed a positive association with educational outcomes in Indian children, particularly for boys.
- The study suggests that the educational benefits of breastfeeding may be sex-specific.
- Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind these gender differences.
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