Prolonged breastfeeding without the introduction of supplementary feeding

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Nutritional marasmus (NM) and kwashiorkor (K) are severe forms of protein-energy malnutrition affecting young children.
• Understanding the specific determinants of NM and K is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between breastfeeding practices, supplementary feeding, and the development of nutritional marasmus and kwashiorkor in Sudanese children aged 6-36 months.
• To identify risk factors contributing to NM and K to inform public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 55 children with NM and 55 with K admitted to a hospital in Khartoum.
• Data collection included maternal interviews on breastfeeding duration, age of supplementary food introduction, and weaning practices.
• Home observations were conducted in a subset of participants' households.

Main Results:

• Prolonged breastfeeding without the introduction of supplementary feeding between 6 and 24 months was positively associated with nutritional marasmus.
• Late introduction of supplementary foods increased the odds of developing NM by 1.4-fold compared to K.
• Kwashiorkor was associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding (odds ratio 1.9).

Conclusions:

• The findings highlight the critical role of appropriate timing for introducing supplementary foods to prevent nutritional marasmus.
• Strategies focusing on optimal breastfeeding duration and timely introduction of complementary feeding are recommended to reduce the prevalence of NM, K, and other forms of childhood malnutrition.