http://bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/323/7308/303

 

BMJ 2001;323:303 ( 11 August )

Papers

Ecological study of effect of breast feeding on infant mortality in Latin America

Ana P Betrán, doctor, a Mercedes de Onís, medical officer, b Jeremy A Lauer, economist, c José Villar, medical officer. d

a Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain, b Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland, c Global Programme on Evidence for Health Policy, World Health Organization, d Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization

Correspondence to: A P Betrán, Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland, betrana@who.int

Objective: To estimate the effect of exclusive breast feeding and partial breast feeding on infant mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America.
Design: Attributable fraction analysis of national data on infant mortality and breast feeding.
Setting: Latin America and the Caribbean.
Main outcome measures: Mortality from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections and nationally representative breastfeeding rates.
Results: 55% of infant deaths from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections in Latin America are preventable by exclusive breast feeding among infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy. Among infants aged 0-3 months, 66% of deaths from these causes are preventable by exclusive breast feeding; among infants aged 4-11 months, 32% of such deaths are preventable by partial breast feeding. 13.9% of infant deaths from all causes are preventable by these breastfeeding patterns. The annual number of preventable deaths is about 52 000 for the region.
Conclusions: Exclusive breast feeding of infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding throughout the remainder of infancy could substantially reduce infant mortality in Latin America. Interventions to promote breast feeding should target younger infants.


What is already known on this topic
Infant mortality is lower among breast fed than non-breast fed infants

The reductions are greatest for deaths from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections

What this study adds
Exclusive breast feeding of infants aged 0-3 months and partial breast feeding for the remainder of the first year would prevent about 52 000 infant deaths a year in Latin America

This corresponds to 13.9% of infant deaths from all causes

Promotion of breast feeding has an important role in increasing survival of infants



 

© BMJ 2001
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.