Feeding Practices and Growth in Yemeni Children

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Abstract
A nutritional survey in the Tihama region of Yemen allowed an analysis of the relationship between infant feeding practices and the growth of children 3–23 months of age. The survey was conducted in 1979 on a representative sample of 364 preschool children 3–23 months of age. After adjustment for demographic and sodoeconomic factors, breast feeding was found to be associated with higher weight-for-length and weight-for-age. The strongest beneficial effect of breast feeding on weight-for-length was seen at 3–6 months, a weaker effect at 7–12 months, and essentially no effect over 12 months of age. A higher weight-for-age was seen in breast-fed infants 3–6 months of age only. Introducing other foods was associated with higher weight-for-length only in children 13–23 months of age. Neither breast feeding nor introducing other foods was associated with length-for-age. Infant feeding practices appear to be associated with weight gain, but not linear growth in Yemeni infants.