Infant feeding patterns and risk of acute respiratory infections

ABSTRACT

To examine the relationships between infant feeding patterns with the risk of Acute Respiratory Infections [ARI] and to assess the importance of some factors that can increase such risk. A case-control study was carried out during the period between February 1[st] 2005 and May 1[st] 2005. The study included 137 infants who were hospitalized in the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital for ARIs, and 157 control subjects who were selected randomly from healthy infants attending 2 primary health care centers in Al-Karkh sector of Baghdad for immunization. The study showed that formula fed infants had 2.7 times higher risk [CI 1.6-4.68] for ARIs compared to breast fed infants. Also, short duration of breastfeeding [<3 months] increased the risk by 1.4 times [CI 0.89 - 2.23]. Additional factors found to have significant relationship with the risk of ARIs were male gender [OR=2.0, CI 1.3-3.3], low educational level of mothers [OR= 6.4, CI 3.2-12.7] and of fathers [OR =4.5, CI 2.27- 8.78], crowded residence [OR=4.5, CI 2.6-7.8], positive history of ARIs in household members in previous 2 weeks [OR=5.5, CI3.3-9.3], family history of asthma [OR=2.6, CI1.4-4.9], and daily smoking of >/= 7 cigarettes close to the infant [OR=2.0, CI 1.1-3.4]. Age, birth order, delayed immunization and malnutrition, were found to be non significant risk factors for increasing infant's risk for ARIs. Multiple logistic regression showed that on adjusting for the effect of all studied variables, factors that significantly increase the risk of ARIs [in descending order for OR] were positive history of ARIs in household members during the previous 2 weeks, low educational level of mothers, infants age [4-6 months Vs <4 months], short duration of breastfeeding, living in crowded residence, and positive family history of asthma or allergy. Breastfeeding offers protection against ARIs