The Effect of Exclusive Breastfeeding Up to 6 Months in Children in Terms of Mortality Due to Pneumonia: An Observational Study

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Abstract (English)

Abstract
Aim: The Aim Of The Present Study Was To Observe The Effect Of Exclusive
Breastfeeding Up To 6 Months In Children In Terms Of Mortality Due To Pneumonia.
Methods: The Study Was Conducted In Department Of Pediatrics A Sri Krishna Medical
College And Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India For Eight Months. A Total 200 Children Of
Both Sex With WHO Defined Severe And Very Severe Pneumonia Were Enrolled In The
Study. The Age Group Was 2 Months To 5 Years.
Results: In Our Study 140 Children Were Male (70%), 60 Were Female (30%), 110 Patients
Were Below 1 Year Of Age (55%), 50 Were Between 1-2 Years (25%) And 56 Were
Between 2-5 Years (20%). Out Of 200 Patients, 98 Were Having Severe Pneumonia (49%)
And 102 Were Having Very Severe Pneumonia (51%). Among These 200 Patients, 140
(70%) Received Exclusive Breast Milk Up To 6 Months. Among The Children Who Were
Breast Fed Up To 6 Months, 42.85% Were Having Very Severe Pneumonia Which Was
Significantly 75% Of The Children Who Were Not Breast Fed Up To 6 Months (P<0.001).
So, Children Who Were Not Breast Fed Up To 6 Months Were 4.1 Times More Likely To Be
Suffering From Very Severe Pneumonia (Vs Severe Pneumonia) Than Those Who Were
Breast Fed Up To 6 Months (P<0.05). 2.85% Of The Children Who Were Breast Fed Up To
6 Months Died Whereas 25% Of Those Who Were Not Breast Fed Up To 6 Months Died
(P<0.001). Those Who Were Not Breast Fed Up To 6 Months Were Significantly 83%
(OR=0.17) Less Likely To Survive As Compared To Those Who Were Breast Fed Up To 6
Months(P<0.05). 19 (9.5%) Patients Expired In The Present Study.
Conclusion: Children Who Do Not Receive Exclusive Breastfeeding Up To 6 Months Are
More Prone To Have More Severe Pneumonia And Relatively Higher Chance Of Mortality