Breastfeeding and diseases prevalent in the first two years of a child's life: a cross-sectional study.
Evelin Matilde Arcain Nass, Sonia Silva Marcon, Elen Ferraz Teston and 5 others
PMID 35674579WHAT IT FOUND
In 401 children, not being exclusively breastfed to six months and not being breastfed to 12 months were associated with more common recorded childhood illnesses.
This was not proof breastfeeding prevented them.
Key findings
01Among 401 children, 27.9% were exclusively breastfed until six months.
02In adjusted analysis, not being exclusively breastfed up to six months (prevalence ratio 1.21, 95% CI 1.14-1.29) and not being breastfed until 12 months (prevalence ratio 1.10, p=0.020) were associated with higher prevalence of prevalent childhood diseases.
03Children who were exclusively breastfed had significantly lower proportions of several common illnesses, except suppurative otitis media and other urinary tract disorders.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional record review, so it shows association, not cause, and it cannot tell whether breastfeeding came before or after illness episodes. Diseases were taken from medical records and only ICD diagnoses with frequency of 10% or more were analysed, so minor or unrecorded problems may be missed. 27 children had records only for childcare, so illness episodes may be undercounted. Nurses' childcare consultations and guidance were not assessed, and nursing activities may not have been recorded, so the study does not show what nursing care did. The sample came from children born in two public hospitals in one city, and excluded twins and children who stopped exclusive breastfeeding before discharge, so it may not apply to other groups.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that breastfeeding prevents these illnesses. It is an observational record review, and other factors not measured could explain the association.