When countries experience economic growth and improved income for their populations, breastfeeding rates almost inevitably decline. There are several reasons for this, including increased availability of clean water, abundance of increasingly affordable formula, and increased numbers of mothers who are working outside of the home (often without breastfeeding support and/or parental leave). Mothers may perceive formula-feeding as a sign of improved social status.
As Brazil experienced economic growth, it also saw a dramatic decline in breastfeeding rates, such that only 5% of infants were being exclusively breastfed in 1986. While these rates have increased, fewer than half of infants are exclusively breastfed for 6 months in Brazil.
This week in Pediatrics, we are early releasing a article by Dr. Jordyn Wallenborn and colleagues at the University of Basel and Universidade de Sao Paulo that describes a prospective cohort study investigating the relationship between breastfeeding and child physical and cognitive development among >2,000 children in a middle-income country. (10.1542/peds.2020-008029)
Families were recruited when the infant was born and followed for at least 3 years.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the authors found that breastfeeding was associated with increased height for age, decreased physical stunting, and increases in overall child development.
So, what makes this study so special? First of all, the authors try to separate out the impact of exclusive breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding for different durations. Second, the analyses controlled for many confounders that are not usually considered, including child care attendance, presence of the father at home, household food insecurity, inter-parental conflict, and maternal depression. Even when adjusting for these and additional confounders, the association of breastfeeding with positive physical and developmental outcomes remain.
I hope that you take a look at this article. Not only are the results compelling, the discussion about all of the positive impacts of breastfeeding will be an excellent reminder that will come in handy when you talk with families about the benefits of breastfeeding.
