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- Title
Relations between infant feeding practices and anthropometrical traits in Latvia.
- Authors
Oginska, Anita; Vētra, Jānis; Pilmane, Māra
- Abstract
Background. Breast milk is the only true natural product for the feeding of infants. World Health Organization suggests breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months of life. The new standards are based on the breastfed child as the norm for growth and development. Thus, the aim of our research was to find the influence of the feeding mode on anthropometrical parameters of the newborns and infants in Latvia. Material and methods. The longitudinal study method was used in the Riga Maternity Hospital from December 2004 until January 2007. 503 healthy, term newborns were measured (head and chest circumference, height, weight) during visit. Ponderal index and body mass index were calculated. Detailed information on feeding patterns was collected from parents. Data were processed by the means of SPSS/PCT software. Results. BMI for 12-month-old boys correlated with PI of newborn boys statistically significantly. For girls, the correlation was not found. A statistically significant difference was observed between breastfed and formula-fed boy-babies in weight, BMI and head circumference at one month. At 3 months, there was no difference seen between anthropometric measurements of breastfed or formula-fed newborns. At 6 months, the difference appeared for girls in height and for boys in BMI depending on the way of feeding. At 9 months, height differed between breastfed boys and formula-fed boys. At 12 months there was no difference observed between the genders. Conclusions. Evidence shows that breastfed and formula-fed infants grow differently, although generally there is no statistically significant influence of the feeding mode on the anthropometry in the first year of life.
- Subjects
LATVIA; BREAST milk; BREASTFEEDING; ANTHROPOMETRY; PHYSICAL anthropology; GROWTH of children; HUMAN biology
- Publication
Acta Medica Lituanica, 2008, Vol 15, Issue 1, p61
- ISSN
1392-0138
- Publication type
Article