PEDIATRICS Vol. 78 No. 4 October 1986, pp. 656-661
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Barros, F. C.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, P. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Barros, F. C.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, P. G.

Birth Weight and Duration of Breast-Feeding: Are the Beneficial Effects of Human Milk Being Overestimated?

Fernando C. Barros MD, MSc, PhD1, Cesar G. Victora MD, PhD1, J. Patrick Vaughan MD, FRCP, MFCM1, and Peter G. Smith DSc1

1 From the Department of Maternal and Child Health, Universidade Catolica de Pelotas, and Department of Social Medicine, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; the Evaluation and Planning Centre for Health Care and Tropical Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London

The beneficial effects of breast-feeding on infant mortality and morbidity have been demonstrated in many studies. Few of these, however, have taken into account the possible confounding effect of birth weight. Several studies have shown that babies of low birth weight are less likely to be breast-fed. In some circumstances, this alone may account for a more than twofold excess in postperinatal infant mortality rates among nonbreast-fed babies, even in the absence of any beneficial effect of breast-feeding. The association between birth weight and breast-feeding and the magnitude of the confounding effect is illustrated using data from a longitudinal study of infant mortality in Pelotas, Southern Brazil, and also using published results from other studies. It is concluded that studies designed or analyzed to relate breast-feeding to infant mortality should take the confounding effect of birth weight into account to avoid overestimating the beneficial effects of human milk.

Key Words: birth weight • breast-feeding • infant mortality • human milk

Submitted on December 16, 1985
Accepted on April 1, 1986




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
L. C. Mullany, J. Katz, Y. M. Li, S. K. Khatry, S. C. LeClerq, G. L. Darmstadt, and J. M. Tielsch
Breast-Feeding Patterns, Time to Initiation, and Mortality Risk among Newborns in Southern Nepal
J. Nutr., March 1, 2008; 138(3): 599 - 603.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
J. M. Paricio Talayero, M. Lizan-Garcia, A. O. Puime, M. J. B. Muncharaz, B. B. Soto, M. Sanchez-Palomares, L. S. Serrano, and L. L. Rivera
Full Breastfeeding and Hospitalization as a Result of Infections in the First Year of Life
Pediatrics, July 1, 2006; 118(1): e92 - e99.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Int J EpidemiolHome page
C. G Victora and F. C Barros
Cohort Profile: The 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study
Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2006; 35(2): 237 - 242.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
S. Arifeen, R. E. Black, G. Antelman, A. Baqui, L. Caulfield, and S. Becker
Exclusive Breastfeeding Reduces Acute Respiratory Infection and Diarrhea Deaths Among Infants in Dhaka Slums
Pediatrics, October 1, 2001; 108(4): e67 - 67.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BMJHome page
A. P Betran, M. de Onis, J. A Lauer, and J. Villar
Ecological study of effect of breast feeding on infant mortality in Latin America
BMJ, August 11, 2001; 323(7308): 303 - 303.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
C. G Victora, B. R Kirkwood, A. Ashworth, R. E Black, S. Rogers, S. Sazawal, H. Campbell, and S. Gove
Potential interventions for the prevention of childhood pneumonia in developing countries: improving nutrition
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 1999; 70(3): 309 - 320.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]