Open AccessEffect of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding on infant growth and morbidity
Author(s) -
Talat Khadivzadeh,
Shireen Parsai
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2004.10.3.289
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , pediatrics , breast feeding , weight gain , breast milk , islamic republic , cohort study , cohort , infant feeding , infant formula , obstetrics , body weight , biochemistry , chemistry , philosophy , theology , islam
A cohort study was conducted in the Islamic Republic of Iran between January 1997 and February 1998 to compare the growth and morbidity of 100 infants who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and 100 who received breast milk and complementary foods between 4-6 months. Infants’ feeding pattern, weight and height were assessed and recorded. There were no significant differences in infants’ weight and height gain between 4 and 6 months. The rate of diarrhoea between ages 4 and 6 months was significantly lower in exclusively breastfed infants than in complementary food-fed infants [11% versus 27%] and respiratory infections were also lower [23% versus 35%]. We conclude that exclusive breastfeeding is superior at least until an infant is 6 months of age