Effect of breastfeeding practices on infant and child mortality in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis
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Date
2021-09Author
Mutiso, Maureen
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objective: Lack of exclusive breastfeeding for infants withi the age of 0 and 6 months
and no breastfeeding for children aged 6 to 24 months is linked to increased odds of death
before the second birthday. Infant mortality in these age groups is due to bot infectious
and non-infectious causes. We examine the existing evidence for impact of proper breastfeeding
on all-cause mortality in children aged 0 to 24 months in Africa.
Methods: We carried out a systematic search of the literature to examine the in_uence
of other breastfeeding practices versus EBF on mortality rates in the initial 180 days
post birth and the e_ect of no breastfeeding versus any breastfeeding type on mortality
rates between 6 and 24 months post birth. We Performed our search in the PubMed
and Cochrane Library databases. Data obtained was analyzed used the Generic Inverse
Variance Method using the R Software, and heterogeneity was assessed using forest plots.
Results: The pooled e_ect size (Odds Ratios) for the di_erence in mortality between
infants whowere predominantly breastfed vs those thatwere fed on breast-milk alone was
found to be 1.15, 95% CI [1.05; 1.27]. This implies that predominantly breastfed children
were 15% more likely to die between the months of 0-6 compared to children who were
fed on breast-milk alone. Compared to infants who were fed solely on breast-milk, infants
that were not breastfed were 9.64 times more likely to die (OR = 9.64 95% CI [8.01; 11.62],
Three studies). Compared to infants between the ages of 6-23 months who got any form
of breastfeeding, infants who never received any breast-milk were 3.19 times more likely
to die (OR = 3.19 95% CI [1.42; 7.15] Five studies).
Conclusion: The _ndings from our study are consistent with previous research on the
protective ability of proper breastfeeding habits on infant and child mortality. They support
the WHO recommended practices of EBF for the half an year and continued/partial
breastfeeding up to the second birthday as key interventions in reducing infant and child
deaths in these age groups.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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