Exclusive Breastfeeding and Childhood Morbidity: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Globally, diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years old. The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections are well documented. Optimal breastfeeding may potentially save the lives of about 800,000 children in low-income settings. Despite the evidence, around 63% of infants from birth to 6 months are not exclusively breastfed worldwide. We searched the literature published between 2010 and 2022 in Medline, Embase, and Scopus on the association between exclusive breastfeeding and infectious diseases. We selected and reviewed 70 relevant studies. Our findings expand and confirm the positive association between exclusive breastfeeding and reduced risk of a number of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and other infections in 60 out of 70 studies observed in both low- and high-income settings. Several studies analyzing exclusive breastfeeding duration reported that a longer exclusive breastfeeding duration is protective against many infectious diseases. This review also reported a lack of standardized definition for measuring exclusive breastfeeding in many studies. Overall, the results highlight the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in many studies and suggests reporting exclusive breastfeeding in future studies using a consistent definition to enable better monitoring of exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Barriers to promoting breastfeeding in primary health care in Mexico: a qualitative perspective

“…Recognized as the most cost-effective strategy to prevent infant mortality, it is estimated to prevent 13.8% of deaths in children under 2 years in medium- and low-income countries ( 4 , 17 ). Moreover, BF brings economic benefits to families ( 18 ) and the health system, reducing the use of health services by preventing diseases in newborns ( 19 , 20 ). Studies such as that of Hanieh et al ( 20 ) indicate that infants exclusively breastfed at 6 weeks after birth have lower odds of hospitalization for diarrhea (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15, 0.88) and suspected pneumonia (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.20, 0.75).…”

Editorial: Global excellence in children and health

“…Whilst breastfeeding rates were not a focus in these reports, other work clearly shows that breastfeeding provides protection against various infections, including gastrointestinal morbidity, during the first year of life ( 1 , 2 ). While promoting early and exclusive breastfeeding to increase rates may be difficult, this should be still be included as an overall strategy to reduce DRM and morbidity.…”

Nutritional care practices for children from 6 to 24 months old by Cham ethnic mothers

“…According to WHO recommendations, UNICEF states that infants should be breastfed within the first hour after birth, as the first drops of colostrum are rich in nutrients and antibodies, which are very beneficial for the child. 10,11 The majority of children in the study were breastfed. This indicates that breast milk remains the primary nutritional food source for newborns and is a top priority for mothers when breastfeeding.…”