Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 2

Study on Effects of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Immunity of Infants

  • Author:
  • Tarun Kumar1,, Sanjay Kumar2, Sunita 3, Manish Kumar3, Jhillmill 4, Anju 4, Ashok Sharan5
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 300 to 303

1Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, IGIMS, Patna

2Additional Professor, Department of Community Medicine, IGIMS, Patna

3Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, IGIMS, Patna

4Senior Resident, Department of Physiology, IGIMS, Patna

5Professor & H.O.D, Department of Physiology, IGIMS, Patna

*Corresponding author: Tarun Kumar, Associate Professor, Deptt. of Physiology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Quarter No. E-1/2, IGIMS Campus, Sheikhpura, Patna - 800014, Mob.: 9546995057, Email: omtarun_2005@yahoo.com

Online published on 26 April, 2016.

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to assess the immunity among the infants with exclusive breastfeeding during first six months of the period of infancy by evaluating the pattern of their morbidity especially acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) and diarrhea.

A community based cross sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of Rural Health Center, Shahpur at Patna. A semi-structured questionnaire evaluating characteristic morbidity pattern during infancy and breastfeeding practices were asked to the mothers with infants aged between 6 months to 1 year. Statistical analysis was done by using proportions, mean, confidence interval (CI) and Chi-square test.

56.6% of the infants were reported to have at least one episode of ARI and 39.1% were reported to have an episode of diarrhea. Mean number of episodes of ARI and diarrhea were 3.46 (3.24 – 3.68, 95% CI), and 2.62 (2.4 – 2.84, 95% CI) respectively. 61.7% of the mothers exclusively breastfed their babies up to six months of their age. Significant relation was found between the lack of exclusive breastfeeding and occurrence of ARI (p value 0.028) and diarrhea (p value 0.007).

Keywords

Acute respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, exclusive breastfeeding, infant