Morbidity related to feeding pattern in privileged urban and under privileged rural infants
Kumar, V.; Kumar, L.; Diwedi, P.
Indian Pediatrics 18(10): 743-749
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 7327710 Document Number: 172266
A prospective study from birth to 1 yr of age was conducted on privileged urban and underprivileged rural Indian infants to study the effect of feeding pattern on morbidity and mortality. Lower morbidity (P < 0.01) and mortality (P < 0.01) were recorded in the breast-fed babies irrespective of place of residence, socioeconomic status and maternal education. Diarrhea (P < 0.001), URI (P < 0.005) and allergies (P < 0.05) were less common among the breast-fed infants, more so during the 1st 4 mo. of life. While differences in diarrheal disease were significant throughout the year, those in URI were evident only after 4 mo. of age. Mothers should be motivated to exclusively breast-feed their babies during the first 4 mo. irrespective of place of residence, the socioeconomic status or level of maternal education. The practice of early introduction of artificial foods should be discouraged.