A P Betrán1, M de Onís, J A Lauer, J Villar. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. betrana@who.int
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of exclusive breast feeding and partial breast feeding on infant mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America. DESIGN: Attributable fraction analysis of national data on infant mortality and breast feeding. SETTING: Latin America and the Caribbean. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections and nationally representative breastfeeding rates. RESULTS: 55% of infant deaths from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America are preventable by exclusive breast feeding among infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy. Among infants aged 0-3 months, 66% of deaths from these causes are preventable by exclusive breast feeding; among infants aged 4-11 months, 32% of such deaths are preventable by partial breast feeding. 13.9% of infant deaths from all causes are preventable by these breastfeeding patterns. The annual number of preventable deaths is about 52 000 for the region. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breast feeding of infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy could substantially reduce infant mortality in Latin America. Interventions to promote breast feeding should target younger infants.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of exclusive breast feeding and partial breast feeding on infant mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America. DESIGN: Attributable fraction analysis of national data on infant mortality and breast feeding. SETTING: Latin America and the Caribbean. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections and nationally representative breastfeeding rates. RESULTS: 55% of infant deaths from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America are preventable by exclusive breast feeding among infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy. Among infants aged 0-3 months, 66% of deaths from these causes are preventable by exclusive breast feeding; among infants aged 4-11 months, 32% of such deaths are preventable by partial breast feeding. 13.9% of infant deaths from all causes are preventable by these breastfeeding patterns. The annual number of preventable deaths is about 52 000 for the region. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breast feeding of infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy could substantially reduce infant mortality in Latin America. Interventions to promote breast feeding should target younger infants.
Authors: C G Victora; B R Kirkwood; A Ashworth; R E Black; S Rogers; S Sazawal; H Campbell; S Gove Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Chessa K Lutter; Camila M Chaparro; Laurence Grummer-Strawn; Cesar G Victora Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2011-09-22 Impact factor: 9.308