Impact of Lack of Breast Feeding on Pneumonia in Infants
Author Information
Author(s): Chisti Mohammod J., Salam Mohammed A., Smith Jonathan Harvey, Ahmed Tahmeed, Ashraf Hasan, Bardhan Pradip K., Pietroni Mark A. C.
Primary Institution: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
Hypothesis
Does stopping breast feeding during the neonatal period affect the development of pneumonia and hypoxemia in infants?
Conclusion
Non-breast feeding during the neonatal period may significantly increase the risk of severe malnutrition, cough, and hypoxemia in infants with pneumonia and diarrhea.
Supporting Evidence
- Non-breast-fed infants had a longer duration of hypoxemia compared to breast-fed infants.
- Non-breast-fed infants had a higher probability of cough and hypoxemia.
- The study highlights the importance of continued breast feeding in early infancy.
Takeaway
Not breastfeeding babies can make them sicker and more likely to have breathing problems when they get pneumonia.
Methodology
The study enrolled infants aged 0-6 months with diarrhea and pneumonia, comparing clinical features between breast-fed and non-breast-fed infants.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the observational nature of the study and lack of randomization.
Limitations
The small sample size limits the ability to draw statistically significant conclusions.
Participant Demographics
Infants aged 0-6 months admitted to a hospital in Bangladesh, with a majority from poor socio-economic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.021
Confidence Interval
1.34–61.71
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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