Breasted and non-breasted infants; patterns of morbidity and mortality

ABSTRACT

To determine the morbidity and mortality patternin breast fed and non breast fed infants. Prospective hospital based, case study. Department of Paediatrics, Allied Hospital Faisalabad. 6 months [Feb - Jul 1997] 200 cases were studied [110 males, 90 females]. 84% of infants were home deliveries, 96.5% were full term for gestational age. Prelacteal feeds were given to 98% of infants, breast milk is offered only to 2% of infant.60% had first degree malnutrition, 15% had second degree and 17.5% had third degree malnutrition. 52.5% of infants had gastro intestinal upsets as chief complaint, 18% had respiratory and 12% had septicaemia. The breast fed infants [64] had 98 episode of illness as compared to bottle fed intfants[70] who had 323 episode while mixed feeding numbers 66 had 190 episodes of illness. Most of the deaths [9 out of 14] were below the age of three month, only one breastfed infant died whereas 9 infants who died were bottle fed and 4 were mix feeding. Sepsis was the most common cause of death [8 out of 14]. None of these was breastfed infant. Education of the mothers, discouraging the prelacteal feeds at birth and promotion of the breast feeding through media should be encouraged