Effect of breastfeeding on head circumference of children from impoverished communities

• Published in: Breastfeeding medicine Vol. 8; no. 3; p. 294
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Haroldo da Silva, Xavier Júnior, Antonio Fernando Silva, de Assunção, Monica Lopes, Dos Santos, Ewerton Amorim, Horta, Bernardo Lessa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-2013
• Subjects: Body Mass Index; Brazil - epidemiology; Breast Feeding - statistics & numerical data; Cephalometry - methods; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental Disabilities - epidemiology; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; Developmental Disabilities - prevention & control; Feeding Behavior; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Nutritional Status; Poverty Areas; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Time Factors; Brazil
• ISSN: 1556-8342
• DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2012.0105

This study investigated the effect of exclusive breastfeeding on head circumference (HC) among children living in impoverished communities.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among children 12-60 months old from the 39 quilombos located in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. HC deficit was defined by a z-score of less than -2 from the median (based on the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards). Prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust adjustment of the variance, and estimates were adjusted for possible confounders (anthropometric, socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related variables).
We evaluated 725 children (365 boys and 360 girls). The prevalence of HC deficit was 13.3% among those children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 30 days, 10.6% among those exclusively breastfed for 30-119 days, and 5.8% among those who were exclusively breastfed for 120 days or more. Even after controlling for possible confounding variables, exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months decreased the risk of HC deficit (prevalence ratio, 0.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.99).
Exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months was associated with a larger HC in children exposed to great social vulnerability in impoverished communities.