Exclusive Breastfeeding as a Predictor of Growth and Development in Infants: Evidence from a Longitudinal Cohort in Southern India

Abstract

Introduction: Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) has a potential role for infants in attaining timely developmental milestones. However, limited research has examined the benefits of EBF in infants in their initial stages. Aim: This study was conducted with the objective to assess the attainment of developmental milestones every month to determine its association with EBF. Materials and Methods: A community-based longitudinal study was conducted over 12 months in 252 mother-infant pairs living in Southern Chennai and adjoining districts of Chengalpet and Kanchipuram. They were followed-up for six time-points in each month to assess the EBF status, measure growth and check for developmental milestones appropriate for age. The relationship between EBF duration in each of the first six months and infant development was analysed using t-test and logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the magnitude of association. Results: Infants who were exclusively breastfed until six months of age had a better weight gain (p <0.01) and communication skills {OR-0.75 (0.58-0.96)} at six months when compared to infants who did not breastfeed at all. However, no such association could be established between the two groups when growth and development was assessed in each month. Conclusion: EBF in infants up to six months was associated with significantly better infant development however the same couldn’t be established for EBF of shorter duration. This study could be further strengthened by expansion of this research to include a long term follow-up into early childhood with a larger sample size and a diverse population group.

Keywords

• association
• developmental milestones
• nutrition