Abstract
Among the health benefits of breast-feeding, one of the most important is a reduction in infant morbidity and mortality from infectious illnesses. The magnitude of the benefit, however, appears to be conditional on socioeconomic factors. For example, the protective effect is far more striking in developing countries than in developed countries.1,2 Even within developing country settings, poor sanitation, overcrowding, and other concomitants of severe poverty are associated with increased protective effects.3 In countries like the United States, with a sizable poor population, it seems reasonable to assume that infants born in poverty, who experience the highest rates of morbidity and mortality (especially in the postneonatal period), would benefit most from being breast-fed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
