Relationship between breast-feeding duration and acute respiratory infections in infants

Authors

• Ismail Abdulmoneim, Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, PO Box 641, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (7) 2247800 ext 252. Fax. +966 (7) 2247570.
• Saleh A. Al-Ghamdi, Child Health Department, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of breast-feeding duration on the frequency of respiratory tract infections in infants during the first 2 years of life. METHODS: A retrospective study where the files of infants randomly selected from Shamasan Primary Health Care Center were analyzed for different related factors and frequencies of respiratory infections. RESULTS: The mean duration of lactation was shorter than in previous national reports (5.1±3.4months). The frequencies of respiratory infections were high in the first 2 years reaching an average of 9.2±4.1 attacks per infant. The lower respiratory tract suffered more frequent attacks than the upper averaging a rate of 5.6±2.6 attacks per infant compared to 3.7±2.2 attacks per infant. The multiple regression models pointed out to highly significant predictors for respiratory infection rates: Lactation duration (p<0.001) for the 2 years rates, child rank (p<0.001) for the first year rates and family income (p<0.001) for the 2nd year rates. CONCLUSION: The lactation duration has an important relation to the frequency of respiratory infections in infancy. Every effort should be made to encourage and support longer duration of breast-feeding.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

347

Last Page

350

Recommended Citation

Abdulmoneim, Ismail and Al-Ghamdi, Saleh A. (2001) "Relationship between breast-feeding duration and acute respiratory infections in infants," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 22: Iss. 4, Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.1410