OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of exclusive breastfeeding on head circumference (HC) among children living in impoverished communities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children 12-60 months old from the 39 quilombos located in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. HC deficit was defined by a z-score of less than -2 from the median (based on the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards). Prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust adjustment of the variance, and estimates were adjusted for possible confounders (anthropometric, socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related variables). RESULTS: We evaluated 725 children (365 boys and 360 girls). The prevalence of HC deficit was 13.3% among those children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 30 days, 10.6% among those exclusively breastfed for 30-119 days, and 5.8% among those who were exclusively breastfed for 120 days or more. Even after controlling for possible confounding variables, exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months decreased the risk of HC deficit (prevalence ratio, 0.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months was associated with a larger HC in children exposed to great social vulnerability in impoverished communities.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of exclusive breastfeeding on head circumference (HC) among children living in impoverished communities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children 12-60 months old from the 39 quilombos located in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. HC deficit was defined by a z-score of less than -2 from the median (based on the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards). Prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust adjustment of the variance, and estimates were adjusted for possible confounders (anthropometric, socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related variables). RESULTS: We evaluated 725 children (365 boys and 360 girls). The prevalence of HC deficit was 13.3% among those children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 30 days, 10.6% among those exclusively breastfed for 30-119 days, and 5.8% among those who were exclusively breastfed for 120 days or more. Even after controlling for possible confounding variables, exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months decreased the risk of HC deficit (prevalence ratio, 0.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months was associated with a larger HC in children exposed to great social vulnerability in impoverished communities.
Authors: D Ivanovic; M Del P Rodríguez; H Pérez; J Alvear; N Díaz; B Leyton; A Almagià; T Toro; M S Urrutia; R Ivanovic Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2007-02-21 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: Elizabeth B Isaacs; Bruce R Fischl; Brian T Quinn; Wui K Chong; David G Gadian; Alan Lucas Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Anja Saso; Oleg Blyuss; Daniel Munblit; Amadou Faal; Sophie E Moore; Kirsty Le Doare Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2019-01-17 Impact factor: 3.418