Growth of infants in relation to type of feeding in Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Emamghorashi, F.; Heydari, S.T.
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 13(4): 846-854
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 1020-3397 PMID: 17955767 Document Number: 198407
We evaluated the growth of 597 infants <24 months attending health centres in Jahrom according to the type of infant feeding. We also compared their growth curves with those of the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS). The infants were divided into 3 groups: exclusively breastfed, exclusively bottlefed and both breast- and bottlefed. They were assessed monthly in the first year and every 2 months in the second year. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of height and weight in the first few months after birth; but breastfed infants were significantly heavier and taller thereafter. The mean heights and weights of the infants were lower compared with the data in the NCHS.