Evaluation of growth and development in breast-fed infants throughout 0-36 months

26642

Objectives: World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for first six months. The aim of this study was to evaluate the duration of breast-feeding, time of starting complementary foods, growth and development of infants aged 0-36 months and the factors affected them. Materials and methods: The anthropometric measures of infants performed. The data were obtained through a questionnaire and face to face interviews. Results: Duration of breastfeeding was between 1and 25 months (mean 9, 31±5, 66); duration of exclusive breast-feeding was between 1 week and 10 months (mean 4, 67±1, 91 months). Duration of breastfeeding in infants at the 25th percentile was statistically significant higher than infants at 50 th percentile (p: 0,033; p 0, 05) There was no statistically significant difference between the duration of breast-feeding according to height percentiles (p 0, 05). Conclusions: In our study, although the breast-fed infants have lower weights than infants fed with formula, their heights were not affected. In spite of the long duration of brest-feeding, positive affects have not been detected. It is thought that the mothers have importance of giving information about breastfeeding to mothers before and after birth.

542

Breast milk , formula , complementary food , growth and development

Dicle Medical Journal

546

Dicle Medical Journal