[Exclusive breastfeeding and growth of infants under 4 months in China].

Data collected at the 40 CFNSS sites in 1998 was analyzed on the relationship of exclusive breastfeeding and the growth, diseases of infant aged under 4 months. The results showed that the exclusive breastfeeding rates (EBF) of children under 4 months were 53.7% in urban and 76.6% in general rural, but was 64.6% in the poor rural. EBF rate of the stunted children was 57.3% that was significantly lower than the infants with normal length. 73.0%. The infants EBF under 4 months were 0.36 kg heavier, 1.2 cm longer, and WAZ 0.4 and HAZ 1.53 higher than the non-EBF infants. Prevalence of diarrhea were 13.1% among EBF and 29% in non-EBF infants. Logistic regression analysis showed that odds ratio (OR) of stunting for non-EBF infants was 2.19, OR of diarrhea was 2.74.