Document Detail


Can improvements in breast-feeding practices reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11399129     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: to review the literature on the relationship between breast-feeding practices in the first month of life and neonatal mortality. METHODS: Medline and Cochrane databases were searched using the keywords breastfeeding, and neonatal mortality, supplemented with additional searches using the keywords developing countries, colostrum, infant feeding and infant mortality, hypoglaecemia, hypothermia, breastfeeding practices, and suckling. FINDINGS: breast feeding helps prevent hypothermia and hypoglycaemia in newborn babies, which are contributory causes of early neonatal deaths especially among low birth weight and premature babies. During the late neonatal period, most deaths in developing countries are due to infections such as sepsis, acute respiratory tract infection, meningitis, omphalitis and diarrhoea. Feeding colostrum and breast feeding, especially exclusive breast feeding, protects against such deaths. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: in most developing countries, nearly all women breast feed in the first month of life, but often breast feeding is delayed beyond the first hour after birth, and exclusive breast feeding is not usually practised. Policies and training of staff of maternity centres and hospitals can encourage early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breast feeding. Midwives can support community-based efforts to support exclusive breast feeding. Breast feeding plays an important role in reducing neonatal mortality and should be strongly emphasised by programmes attempting to reduce neonatal mortality.
Authors:
S L Huffman; E R Zehner; C Victora
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Midwifery     Volume:  17     ISSN:  0266-6138     ISO Abbreviation:  Midwifery     Publication Date:  2001 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-06-11     Completed Date:  2002-01-11     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8510930     Medline TA:  Midwifery     Country:  Scotland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  80-92     Citation Subset:  N    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Affiliation:
Ready to Learn, Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20009, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Age Factors
Breast Feeding / ethnology,  psychology,  statistics & numerical data*
Causality
Cause of Death
Communicable Disease Control
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Developing Countries*
Health Promotion / methods*
Humans
Hypoglycemia / prevention & control
Hypothermia / prevention & control
Infant Mortality*
Infant, Newborn
Research Design / standards
Selection Bias
Time Factors
World Health
World Health Organization

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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