ABSTRACT
Feeding histories were collected on 81 infants born to middle income families in a private hospital in University Town, Peshawar. For the comparison of growth and morbidity between breast-fed and bottle-fed babies, 67 of the above mentioned infants were followed from birth to 4 months of age. Fifty eight percent of the infants were breast-fed and 42% infants were bottle-fed [mixed fed: 27% and bottle fed exclusively: 15%]. A large percentage of mothers [62.5%] initiated breast-feeding with in first 6 hours postpartum. Eighty nine percent of mothers fed colostrum [first milk] to their babies; 53% of the mothers considered colostrum useful while 11% considered it harmful. Bottle feeding was introduced to 89% of the infants during first month of life; 64% of the bottle-fed infants received infant formula while 36% received animal milk. Forty five percent of the infants were introduced weaning foods by the age of four months. Popular weaning foods were cerelac, banana, farex, egg yolk and biscuits. Use of pacifier was common in both breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Irrespective of feeding methods, the mean weights and mean head circumferences of boys were greater than girls at birth, 2 and 4 months of age [P<0.05]. From birth to 4 months of age, mean weight and mean weight gains of breast-fed boys and girls were not significantly different from those of partially breast-fed and bottle-fed boy and girls. Similarly mean head circumferences and mean increase in head circumference of breast-fed boys and girls were not significantly different from those of partial breast-fed and bottle-fed boys and girls. The morbidity data revealed that during the first four months of life breast-fed group had significantly less number of infants with diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections as compared to bottle-fed group infants [P< 0.05]