Length Of Breastfeeding Research Articles

Childhood predictors of later suicide: Follow‐up of a sample of gifted children

AbstractBy 1987, 8.7 per cent of the deaths of the men and 5.2 per cent of the deaths of the women in Terman's sample of gifted children were from suicide. Four variables distinguished those who killed themselves at a young age from those committing suicide later: the length of pregnancy, the length of breast feeding, loss of father by death or divorce, and a lower desire to excel.

Breast-feeding in Asia: An overview

This review considers some of the many reasons why researchers and policy makers are increasingly concerned about breastfeeding (BF). It discusses the contraceptive effect and health benefits of BF, and review major BF trends and patterns in selected countries and areas of Asia. It also discusses the complementarity between BF and contraceptive use, and highlights the findings of the studies contained in this special issue of the "Journal." In populations without access to modern contraception, birth intervals (BIs) are determined by the length of BF. The contraceptive effect of BF has been well documented. BF plays an important role in child nutrition and health in 3rd world countries. There are lower incidence of infant morbidity in Asia. Maternal antibodies in breast milk protect the infant from gastrointestinal illness and respiratory infections. Breastfeeding is very economical. The risk of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from the infected mother to the child in the breast milk is a new contraindication to BF. However, BF is not as effective as a contraceptive after 6 months. Modern methods of postpartum contraception must be used. Introduction of contraceptive pills in some setting may be done too early. Family planning programs can help women use BF as a contraceptive method. BF should be seen as a "lactational amenorrhea method" in the "cafeteria" of FP methods. Users of the lactational amenorrhea method need to be represented in service statistics. FP surveys should find out if BR is used for fertility regulation. The other articles in the journal are summarized.

Early Feeding Practices and Subsequent Childrearing Attitudes of French-Canadian Women

95 French-Canadian women took part in a study of the relationships between early feeding practices (bottle-feeding, breast-feeding) and subsequent childrearing attitudes (control, hostility/rejection). Possible effects of maternal age, sex of child, and socioeconomic status were considered. Maternal control was negatively related to socioeconomic status and duration of breast-feeding, whereas maternal hostility/rejection was negatively associated with length of breast-feeding.

The effects of breastfeeding and pace of childbearing on mortality at early ages

The effects of the pace of childbearing and breastfeeding practices on infant mortality have rarely been considered together. In this paper, we design and use a set of methodological tools to test a variety of hypotheses postulating the effects of breastfeeding and pace of childbearing on mortality in infancy and early childhood, the mechanisms through which those effects operate, and the contingencies that strengthen or weaken them. The strong effects of both length of breastfeeding and the pace of childbearing on the risks of child death suggest that neither of them exerts an impact on mortality totally mediated by the other. Social and demographic factors (such as age of child, education of mother, and region of residence) also condition the impact of breastfeeding and pace of childbearing on mortality.

Breast-feeding and social factors.

Information about every tenth child aged 14 to 38 months was collected by means of a questionnaire in Turku, Finland in March, 1983. This paper reports on duration of breast-feeding and its relation to social factors. The average duration of breast-feeding was 5.7 months. Length of breast-feeding was unaffected by sex, number of siblings, and birth order among siblings. The socioeconomic status of the father was associated with duration of breast-feeding: children in high status families were breast-fed longer than children in low status families. Mothers with occupations in the health service, education, and the social sector breast-fed longer than mothers in other occupations. Mothers who were working at the time of the study had breast-fed longer than housewives. For further promotion of breast-feeding, information must be made more effective in the lower social groups and among fathers.

Does Female Education Affect Fertility Behaviour in Pakistan?

The study explores the relationship between female education and fertility in Pakistan and is based on data from the Pakistan Fertility Survey 1975. Only slight differentials were identified between women with no education and those who had primary or less schooling. However, women with more than primary education had notably lower fertility. Also the role of the intermediate variables such as proportions married, length of breastfeeding, and contraceptive use had significant associations with female education.

Impact of a community-based intervention of health and nutrition status in the Central Amazon of Brazil.

A study of the impact of a community-based rural health program on selected indicators of health and nutrition status in children under the age of 72 months was conducted in the Central Amazon of Brazil. 4 separate communities were followed for a period of 18 months. The community that successfully implemented an integrated community development model showed the greatest improvement in prevalence of malnutrition and intestinal parasites. 2 villages that utilized a basic health service model showed no consistent changes in nutritional status but improvement in rates of parasitism and anemia. The village with no intervention showed no changes in any of the indicators studied. Increased utilization of services was associated with increased length of breastfeeding and elimination of the 2:1 excess of females to males in prevalence of malnutrition. Home visits appear to be the type of service associated with improvements in nutritional status the use of protected water and less frequent diarrhea. Community development activities and home visits have been strengthened within the program as a result of this study. Tables and charts present data on health status indicators home visits and rate of anemia. (authors modified)

THE INFLUENCE OF PERINATAL FACTORS ON BREAST FEEDING

The effect on breast feeding of various factors connected with delivery and the immediate post partum period were investigated in a group of 1701 parturients. Children born by caesarean section or assisted delivery, those of low birth weight or asphyxiated at birth started breast feeding significantly less often than healthy children delivered normally. The length of breast feeding was not affected by these factors once it was started, 49% breast feeding for six months or more. Exceptionally young and old mothers breast fed less well than mothers in general. Mothers whose husbands attended the delivery breast fed more often and longer than others. Failure to start breast feeding occurred in only 2.4% of the material. In this material with high breast feeding rates it can be concluded that obstetric and perinatal abnormalities have a small but nevertheless significant effect on the incidence of breast feeding.

Factors associated with nutritional status among young children in St. Vincent

A survey was undertaken in 1975 in St. Vincent, West Indies, among the mothers of nearly all children from one to two years old in two towns. The mean weight for age was 85 percent of the Boston Standard and the mean weight for height was 92.5 percent of the standard. Levels of malnutrition were similar to those found in a national survey eight years earlier. Using multiple regression analysis, the variable which had by far the greatest impact on nutritional status (weight for age) was economic level of living. Next in importance came length of breastfeeding, attendance at postnatal clinics, and (with a negative association) the number of siblings. Efforts to solve the EPM problem must seek to eradicate poverty, but should not neglect the importance of breastfeeding, child spacing, and appropriate health care.

Breastfeeding as a Contraceptive Method Among a Low Income Group of of Tehrani Women

The study objective was to describe the breast feeding and contraceptive practices of women who attend 1 of the government neighborhood health centers in Tehran Iran specifically focusing on the extent to which breast feeding is relied upon as a contraceptive as well as an infant feeding method. The population studied was a random sample of married Tehrani women 40 years old or younger who had had at least 1 child and who sought medical care other than family planning services at a government health center. A sample of 100 was studied 95 of which were complete and suitable for analysis. 70% of the women sampled and 63% of their husbands had completed 6 years of education or less and 91% of the women were not employed outside the home. 61% of the husbands were employed in manual occupations. The group was overwhelmingly urban. The mean length of breast feeding among the sample was 10.5 months. 67% of breast feeding mothers relied exclusively on breast milk. Among the 33% who did begin supplementary bottles while the child was still on the breast the mean age of introduction was 4 months. Similarly there was a tendency to postpone introduction of semi-solid or solid foods; only 4% of mothers breast feeding for more than 4 months gave semi-solids before that age. Belief in lactation as a contraceptive method was not widespread. Only 41% believed that it acts as a contraceptive and only 12% expressed strong faith in its effectiveness. The knowledge and practice of technological and biological contraception was much greater among this client population that would normally be expected of the general population of a country like Iran. At the time of this study 45% of the sample was using technological birth control (oral contraceptive IUD condom or tubal ligation) while 26% were relying on less effective biological methods (coitus interruptus safe period).

The Relationship of Bottle Feeding to Malnutrition and Gastroenteritis in a Pre-Industrial Setting

A retrospective study was carried out among 610 infants from 3 preindustrial Arabic villages in Israel. Body weights and related health statistics including hospitalizations were recorded for over 6 months for these infants aged 6-30 months. Information was also taken on the exact feeding history of the infants up to 6 months. There had been no significant difference in birth weights among the infants. The study illustrates the relationship of deficient nutritional status and increased morbidity due to gastroenteritis to the method of feeding up to 6 months. There was an inverse relationship between weight at 6 months and the length of bottle feeding and a direct relationship between weight and the length of breast feeding. There was a highly significant weight difference in both sexes between infants fed almost exclusively by breast and those fed in the main by bottle. In addition the incidence of malnutrition was nil in the breast fed group and significantly higher in the bottle fed infants. The study indicates that especially in unsanitary conditions where impure water might be used to mix infant formula breast feeding alone is the safest food for the 1st 4-6 critical months. No supplementary feeding should be included.