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. 2001 Aug 11;323(7308):303-6.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7308.303.

Ecological study of effect of breast feeding on infant mortality in Latin America

A P Betrán  1 , M de Onís, J A Lauer, J Villar
Affiliations

Ecological study of effect of breast feeding on infant mortality in Latin America

A P Betrán et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the effect of exclusive breast feeding and partial breast feeding on infant mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America.

Design: Attributable fraction analysis of national data on infant mortality and breast feeding.

Setting: Latin America and the Caribbean.

Main outcome measures: Mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections and nationally representative breastfeeding rates.

Results: 55% of infant deaths from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America are preventable by exclusive breast feeding among infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy. Among infants aged 0-3 months, 66% of deaths from these causes are preventable by exclusive breast feeding; among infants aged 4-11 months, 32% of such deaths are preventable by partial breast feeding. 13.9% of infant deaths from all causes are preventable by these breastfeeding patterns. The annual number of preventable deaths is about 52 000 for the region.

Conclusions: Exclusive breast feeding of infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy could substantially reduce infant mortality in Latin America. Interventions to promote breast feeding should target younger infants.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Log–log plot of cumulative cause specific child mortality by age, showing data points for ages 6 months, 1 year, 1.5 years, and 5 years19 and predicted values at 4 months
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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