BREAST-FEEDING PROTECTS AGAINST INFECTION IN INDIAN INFANTS

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 120  (3) , 295-298
Abstract
A retrospective study was undertaken at 2 isolated Manitoba [Canada] Indian communities to determine whether the type of infant feeding was related to infection during the 1st yr of life. Of 158 infants 28 were fully breast-fed, 58 initially breast-fed and then changed to bottle-feeding and 72 fully bottle-fed. Fully bottle-fed infants were hospitalized with infectious diseases 10 .times. more often and spent 10 .times. more days in hospital during the 1st year of life than fully breast-fed infants. Diagnoses were mainly lower respiratory tract infection and gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis occurred in only 1 breast-fed infant. Breast-feeding was strongly protective against severe infection requiring hospital admission and also against minor infection. The protective effect, which lasted even after breast-feeding was discontinued, was independent of family size, overcrowding in the home, family income and education of the parents. Measures to achieve breast-feeding for virtually all infants, particularly in northern communities, should be given high priority.