Breast feeding, nutritional state, and child survival in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

The effect of breast feeding on nutritional state, morbidity, and child survival was examined prospectively in a community in rural Bangladesh. Every month for six months health workers inquired about breast feeding and illness and measured arm circumference in an average of 4612 children aged 12-36 months. Data from children who died within one month of a visit were compared with those from children who survived. Roughly one third of the deaths in the age range 18-36 months were attributable to absence of breast feeding. Within this age range protection conferred by breast feeding was independent of age but was evident only in severely malnourished children. In communities with a high prevalence of malnutrition breast feeding may substantially enhance child survival up to 3 years of age.

PIP: Breastfeeding enhances survival during infancy and ranks among the 1st 4 strategies promoted by UNICEF for improving infant and child survival. Nevertheless, its impact in older children is still unknown. The effect of breastfeeding on nutritional state, morbidity, and child survival was examined prospectively in a community in rural Bangladesh. Every month for 6 months health workers inquired about breastfeeding and illness and measured arm circumference in an average of 4612 children aged 12-36 months. Data from children who died within 1 month of a visit were compared with those from children who survived. Roughly 1/3 of the deaths in the age range 18-36 months were attributable to absence of breastfeeding. Within this age range protection conferred by breastfeeding was independent of age but was evident only in severely malnourished children. In communities with a high prevalence of malnutrition breastfeeding may substantially enhance child survival up to 3 years of age. Family planning may help, as pregnancy was the most common cause of stopping breastfeeding early in this community.