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Age at breast feeding start and postneonatal growth and survival
G Gunnlaugsson1, M C da Silva, L Smedman
1Centre of Maternal and Child Health, Guinea Bissau.
Insights
Colostrum provides crucial anti-infective benefits and supports infant immune development. However, this study found early breastfeeding initiation did not significantly impact long-term child survival in Guinea-Bissau.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Colostrum possesses vital anti-infective properties and may aid infant immune system development.
- Cultural practices of discarding colostrum could potentially lead to adverse health outcomes post-neonatal period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that discarding colostrum has adverse health consequences beyond the neonatal period.
- To assess the impact of early breastfeeding initiation on infant growth and survival up to three years of age.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up study of 734 healthy newborns in urban Guinea-Bissau.
- Ascertained age at breastfeeding start and monitored children until 3 years of age.
- Recorded mortality data to analyze survival probabilities.
Main Results:
- Eighty-nine deaths occurred during the study period.
- The probability of death between 28 days and 3 years of age was approximately 20%.
- No statistically significant impact of early breastfeeding start on postneonatal growth or survival was observed.
Conclusions:
- While colostrum has known immunological benefits, early initiation of breastfeeding alone did not significantly alter long-term growth or survival in this cohort.
- Under conditions of material poverty, other factors likely play a more dominant role in child survival than the timing of breastfeeding initiation.
Abstract:
Colostrum has important anti-infective properties. It may also somehow promote the development of the child's immunological system. Discarding colostrum, as practised in some cultures, could thus have adverse health consequences beyond the neonatal period. To test this hypothesis, the age at breast feeding start of 734 healthy newborns in urban Guinea-Bissau was ascertained. The children were then prospectively followed up to 3 years of age. Eighty nine deaths occurred during the study. The probability of death in the age interval 28 days to 3 years was about 20%. The child's age at breast feeding start had no statistical impact on postneonatal growth or survival. As a single measure, early breast feeding start is not likely to make much difference for the long term growth or survival of children living under material poverty conditions.