Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds
Abstract Objective: To describe breastfeeding rates from early to late infancy and to examine associations between breastfeeding duration and infant growth, including rapid weight gain (RWG, > 0·67 SD increase in weight-for-age Z-score), among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically di...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Public Health Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980023002689/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797365303591567360 |
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| author | Jigna M Dharod Christina M Frazier Jeffery Labban Maureen M Black |
| author_facet | Jigna M Dharod Christina M Frazier Jeffery Labban Maureen M Black |
| author_sort | Jigna M Dharod |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Objective:
To describe breastfeeding rates from early to late infancy and to examine associations between breastfeeding duration and infant growth, including rapid weight gain (RWG, > 0·67 SD increase in weight-for-age Z-score), among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Design:
A short, prospective cohort study was conducted assessing breastfeeding status at infant ages 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months. Infant length and weight measurements were retrieved from electronic health records to calculate weight-for-length Z-scores and the rate of weight gain.
Setting:
Pediatric clinic in the Southeastern USA.
Participants:
Mother-infant dyads (n = 256).
Results:
Most participants were African American (48 %) or Latina (34 %). Eighty-one per cent were participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Infants were breastfed for a median duration of 4·75 months, with partial more common than exclusive breastfeeding. At 12 months, 28 % of the participants were breastfeeding. Infants breastfed beyond 6 months had significantly lower growth trajectories than infants breastfed for 0–2 months (β = 0·045, se = 0·013, P = 0·001) or 3–6 months (β = 0·054, se = 0·016, P = 0·001). Thirty-six per cent of the infants experienced RWG. RWG was more common among infants who were breastfed for 2 months or less than 6+ month breastfed group (relative risk = 1·68, CI95 (1·03, 2·74), P = 0·03).
Conclusions:
Breastfeeding beyond 6 months is associated with the prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, suggesting progress toward health equity.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:48:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92f5620ceef64a48be2772171d8be621 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1368-9800 1475-2727 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:48:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-92f5620ceef64a48be2772171d8be6212024-01-05T08:37:31ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-27272024-01-012710.1017/S1368980023002689Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgroundsJigna M Dharod0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1408-8800Christina M Frazier1Jeffery Labban2Maureen M Black3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6427-4639Department of Nutrition, School of Health and Human Sciences, 319 College Avenue, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USAOffice of Research, School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USARTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USADepartment of Pediatrics, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Abstract Objective: To describe breastfeeding rates from early to late infancy and to examine associations between breastfeeding duration and infant growth, including rapid weight gain (RWG, > 0·67 SD increase in weight-for-age Z-score), among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Design: A short, prospective cohort study was conducted assessing breastfeeding status at infant ages 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months. Infant length and weight measurements were retrieved from electronic health records to calculate weight-for-length Z-scores and the rate of weight gain. Setting: Pediatric clinic in the Southeastern USA. Participants: Mother-infant dyads (n = 256). Results: Most participants were African American (48 %) or Latina (34 %). Eighty-one per cent were participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Infants were breastfed for a median duration of 4·75 months, with partial more common than exclusive breastfeeding. At 12 months, 28 % of the participants were breastfeeding. Infants breastfed beyond 6 months had significantly lower growth trajectories than infants breastfed for 0–2 months (β = 0·045, se = 0·013, P = 0·001) or 3–6 months (β = 0·054, se = 0·016, P = 0·001). Thirty-six per cent of the infants experienced RWG. RWG was more common among infants who were breastfed for 2 months or less than 6+ month breastfed group (relative risk = 1·68, CI95 (1·03, 2·74), P = 0·03). Conclusions: Breastfeeding beyond 6 months is associated with the prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, suggesting progress toward health equity. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980023002689/type/journal_articleBreastfeedingInfant growth trajectoryRapid weight gainChildhood obesityInfant feeding practices |
| spellingShingle | Jigna M Dharod Christina M Frazier Jeffery Labban Maureen M Black Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds Public Health Nutrition Breastfeeding Infant growth trajectory Rapid weight gain Childhood obesity Infant feeding practices |
| title | Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds |
| title_full | Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds |
| title_fullStr | Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds |
| title_short | Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds |
| title_sort | breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low income racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds |
| topic | Breastfeeding Infant growth trajectory Rapid weight gain Childhood obesity Infant feeding practices |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980023002689/type/journal_article |
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