HK J Paediatr (New Series)
Vol 27. No. 3,
2022
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HK J Paediatr (New Series) 2022;27:177-181
Original Article
The Effect of Breastfeeding on the Rate of Infections in the First 2 Years of Life
DB Arda, E Gur, T Erener-Ercan, G Can Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Social Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey DB Arda MD E Gur MD Maltepe University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey T Erener-Ercan MD Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Istanbul, Turkey G Can MD Correspondence to: Dr T Erener-Ercan Email: terenerercan@gmail.com Received September 27, 2020
Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and duration of breastfeeding (BF) on the rate of infections during the first 2 years of life. Methods: The study group consisted of healthy infants who admitted to the outpatient Healthy Child Clinics for their routine control. Results: In 200 healthy term infants enrolled, the mean duration of EBF and total duration of BF were 4.2±2.8 and 11.6±5.3 months, respectively. In those without any infection (42.5%), duration of EBF and total duration of BF were 5.9±0.4 and 13.4±4.6 months, respectively while in those with 1 infection (29.5%) and ≥2 infections (28%), it was 4.6±3.3 and 11.8±4.6 months and 1.3±1.9 and 8.7±5.9 months, respectively. This difference between each group was stastistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our study showed that increased duration of EBF and increased duration of BF were associated with lower infection rate in infants in the first 2 years of life. Keyword : Breastfeeding; Breastmilk; Exclusive breastfeeding; Infection
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