Effects of early extra fluid and food intake on breast milk consumption and infant nutritional status at 5 months of age in an urban and a rural area of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of early extra fluid and food intake on breast milk consumption and the effects of food intake on 5-month-old infant nutritional status. Design: Cross-sectional surveys. Infants were selected by random choice. Settings: Urban and rural Burkina Faso. Subjects: A total of 97 urban and 69 rural infants were recruited, but 67 and 51, respectively, completed the surveys. Infant selection criteria were: age (570.5-month old), thriving, breastfed, having Burkinabè parents in study area for a year, study conditions accepted by parents. Intervention: Surveys were conducted respectively in January and February 2001 (urban), and 2002 (rural) during the cool season. They were performed by home visit. With the help of health workers and traditional midwives, families were informed of the studies' objectives and gave agreement. Food intakes were estimated by test-weighing for breast milk and precise weighing techniques for other foods. Socioeconomic status of households, anthropometry of infants and mothers were also recorded. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother's breast and analysed for lipid and fatty acid concentrations. Results: Daily breast milk intake did not differ between urban (7767262 g) and rural areas (8357265 g). Porridge intake was, respectively, 1287105 and 96749 g. Median extra fluid intake was, respectively, 79 and 122 g. In both areas, porridge and fluid intake had no effect on breast milk consumption. In urban areas, infant nutritional status at 5 months was better than at birth. Conclusion: Breast milk intake and nutritional status of predominantly breastfed infants at 5 months of age, living in both urban and rural settings, were not affected by the consumption of extra fluid or food intake.

Stunting, wasting and associated factors among children aged 6–24 months in Dabat health and demographic surveillance system site: A community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

“…This finding was in agreement with the report from Central Africa Republic, in which poor growth of children is correlated with old age of children [47]. Studies of other developing countries also claimed that stunting is less common in early infancy as they are on breastfeeding [70], however, because of inappropriate complementary feeding practice and higher nutritional demand, the risk of impaired linear growth increases as the child’s age advances [71]. …”

Prevalence and predictors of undernutrition among infants aged six and twelve months in Butajira, Ethiopia: The P-MaMiE Birth Cohort

“…Several investigators [20,19] have reported an increased risk of infant undernutrition resulting from sub-optimal feeding during early infancy (discarding of colostrum, delayed initiation of breast feeding, pre-lacteal feeding and non-exclusive breastfeeding). However, as in our study, other investigators did not replicate these findings [37,31]. In Bangladesh, food secure households were more likely to practice sub-optimal infant feeding at the age of 3-6 months [38] but the prevalence of undernutrition was significantly lower in this group compared to food insecure households [39].…”

“…In the current study, the proportion of women delaying initiation of breastfeeding for more than one hour is comparable to the national figure but the proportion of non-excusive breastfeeding at the age of two months and pre-lacteal feeding practices are relatively low [15,36]. The proportion of infants who were given colostrum in the current study is higher than studies from Burkina Faso [31] and India [19]. One possible explanation for the current negative finding might be a lack of power to detect an effect due to the low prevalence of sub-optimal feeding practices.…”

“…The national prevalence of stunting is 32.7% and 46.3% among 9-11 months old and 12-17 months old, respectively [15]. In Burkina Faso [31] the prevalence of stunting at the mean age of 5 months is less than 2.0% and in a semi-urban population in Uganda the prevalence of stunting among 0-11 month old infants is 16.7% [20]. A prevalence of stunting comparable to the current study was reported among 0-12 months old in India [19].…”

Effect of early exclusive breastfeeding on morbidity among infants born to HIV-negative mothers in Zimbabwe

“…Data are quite consistent, demonstrating a displacement effect by formula, animal milk, and solid food (21,22). However, recent studies indicate that PBF liquids do not result in lower breast milk intake (23,24). In our study, the deleterious effects of PBF and MBF were of remarkably similar magnitude in all the analyses that we conducted.…”