Effect of breastfeeding on head circumference of children from impoverished communities
Ferreira, H.d.S.; Xavier Júnior, A.F.S.; de Assunção, M.L.; Dos Santos, E.A.; Horta, B.L.
Breastfeeding Medicine the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine 8(3): 294-301
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1556-8342 PMID: 23414229 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2012.0105Document Number: 579048
This study investigated the effect of exclusive breastfeeding on head circumference (HC) among children living in impoverished communities. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children 12-60 months old from the 39 quilombos located in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. HC deficit was defined by a z-score of less than -2 from the median (based on the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards). Prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust adjustment of the variance, and estimates were adjusted for possible confounders (anthropometric, socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related variables). We evaluated 725 children (365 boys and 360 girls). The prevalence of HC deficit was 13.3% among those children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 30 days, 10.6% among those exclusively breastfed for 30-119 days, and 5.8% among those who were exclusively breastfed for 120 days or more. Even after controlling for possible confounding variables, exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months decreased the risk of HC deficit (prevalence ratio, 0.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.99). Exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months was associated with a larger HC in children exposed to great social vulnerability in impoverished communities.