EVIDENCE FOR PROTECTION BY BREAST-FEEDING AGAINST INFANT DEATHS FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN BRAZIL

CesarG Victora, J. Patrick Vaughan, Cintia Lombardi, SandraM C. Fuchs, LucianaP Gigante, PeterG Smith, LeticiaC Nobre, AnaMariaB Teixeira, LeilaB Moreira, FernandoC Barros

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456 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a population-based case-control study of infant mortality in two urban areas of southern Brazil, the type of milk in an infant's diet was found to be an important risk factor for deaths from diarrhoeal and respiratory infections. Compared with infants who were breast-fed with no milk supplements, and after adjusting for confounding variables, those completely weaned had 14.2 and 3.6 times the risk of death from diarrhoea and respiratory infections, respectively. Part-weaning was associated with corresponding relative risks (RR) of 4.2 and 1.6. The risk of death from infections other than diarrhoea or respiratory infection was less clearly associated with breast-feeding (completely weaned, RR = 2.5; partly weaned, RR = 0.4). Cow's and formula milk seemed to be equally hazardous. For deaths due to diarrhoea the increased risk associated with not breast-feeding was greatest in the first two months of life (RR for completely weaned vs breast-fed without supplementary milk = 23.3).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)319-322
Number of pages4
JournalThe Lancet
Volume330
Issue number8554
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 8 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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