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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Patterns of Breast Feeding in Western Ethiopia and Their Relationship to Acute Diarrhoea in Infants |
Authors: | Ketsela, Tigest Asfaw, M. Kebede, Derege |
Year: | 1990 |
Periodical: | Journal of Tropical Pediatrics |
Volume: | 36 |
Issue: | 4 |
Pages: | 180-183 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Ethiopia |
Subjects: | breastfeeding diarrhoea Health, Nutrition, and Medicine Cultural Roles Sex Roles Women and Their Children |
External link: | http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/36/4/180 |
Abstract: | To determine the extent of protection from breastfeeding against acute diarrhoea, a cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas in a western region of Ethiopia, Gamo-Gofa. The authors employed trained and supervised health workers (physicians, nurses, and sanitarians) as interviewers, and a pretested questionnaire was utilized for the purpose. Among a total of 3002 children under the age of 5 years surveyed for diarrhoeal disease morbidity, mortality, and treatment rates, all those 6 months of age and less (n = 311) were taken as subjects to examine the trends of breastfeeding and their association with the occurrence of acute diarrhoeal diseases. It was found that out of these 331 infants, 217 (66 percent) were exclusively breastfed and 114 (34 percent) were partially breastfed. No one in the study group was fully weaned. Out of those who were exclusively breastfed (n = 217), 25 (12 percent) had diarrhoea which started within the past 2 weeks of the survey. Among those partially breastfed (n = 114), 46 (40 percent) had diarrhoea. The difference in the occurrence of diarrhoea among exclusively and partially breastfed infants was statistically significant. When infants with partial breastfeeding were contrasted with those on exclusive breastfeeding, a relative risk of developing diarrhoea of 5.2 (95 percent confidence interval 3.00, 9.10) was obtained. It is recommended that breastfeeding, which tends to diminish with urbanization, be promoted as one important intervention for the control of diarrhoeal diseases. Ref. |