Mortality patterns in breast versus artificially fed term babies in early infancy: a longitudinal study

In this study 500 full term breast fed and 500 full term top fed babies were divided into 2 groups of weight > 2.5 kg and < or = 2.5 kg each, and were followed up for the mortality pattern. Eight hundred of these completed the full follow up period of 6 months. Neonatal mortality in term babies in the present study was 40 per thousand and mortality during 1-6 months period was 55 per thousand. Early neonatal mortality in breast fed > 2.5 kg was 0.55% against 7.8% in < or = 2.5 kg breast fed babies. The corresponding figures in artificially fed was 1.17% and 9.37% respectively. Late neonatal mortality in breast fed > 2.5 kg was 0 and in < or = 2.5 kg was 2.14%. These values in artificially fed were 0 and 3.12%, respectively. Mortality in 1-6 months period in breastfed > 2.5 kg was 0.64% and in < or = 2.5 kg was 15.5%; and in artificially fed 1.66% and 23% respectively. Thus LBW babies whether breast fed or artificially fed had higher mortality and artificially fed had overall higher mortality in comparison to breast fed. It is concluded that attention should be directed towards promotion of breast feeding and on prevention of low birth weight for decreasing mortality in early infancy.