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Infant growth faltering linked to subclinical mastitis, maternal faecal–oral contamination, and breastfeeding.
- Source :
- Maternal & Child Nutrition; Jul2019, Vol. 15 Issue 3, pN.PAG-N.PAG, 1p
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Infant growth faltering occurs in breastfed infants <6 months of age. The possibility that maternal health status contributes to this growth faltering is underexplored. We investigated whether (a) subclinical mastitis (SCM), an asymptomatic inflammation of the breast, (b) maternal intestinal nematode and protozoan infections, indicators of faecal–oral contamination, or (c) poor breastfeeding practices increased the odds of stunting (length‐for‐age z‐score < −2SD), underweight (weight‐for‐age z‐score < −2SD), or low head circumference (head circumference‐for‐age z‐score < −2SD) in breastfed infants in rural indigenous communities in Guatemala. Mother–infant dyads (n = 105) were subdivided into those with and without SCM (milk Na:K ratio > 0.6). Maternal and infant anthropometry were measured at the time of breast milk collection. Maternal stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal nematodes and protozoa. Questionnaires were used to characterize breastfeeding practices (exclusivity and frequency) and support, hygiene (latrine use and household faucet), and infant diarrhoea. SCM occurred in 14% of women and was associated with increased odds of infant stunting (odds ratio [OR] = 4.3; confidence interval [CI] [1.1, 15.8]), underweight (OR = 9.2; CI [1.8, 48.0]), and low head circumference (OR = 15.9; CI [2.6, 96.9]). Maternal pathogenic protozoa and nematodes were uncommon (<4%), but nonpathogenic protozoa were common (e.g., Entamoeba coli [39%]). Entamoeba coli increased the likelihood (OR = 3.3; CI [1.02, 10.6]) of low head circumference, whereas higher breastfeeding frequency lowered its odds (OR = 0.74, CI [0.56, 0.97]). Prevention of SCM may improve early infant growth, but public health measures that increase breastfeeding frequency and reduce faecal–oral contamination may be required to minimize low head circumference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ANTHROPOMETRY
BREASTFEEDING
BREASTFEEDING promotion
CEPHALOMETRY
CHI-squared test
CHILD development deviations
CONFIDENCE intervals
DIARRHEA in children
FISHER exact test
GASTROINTESTINAL diseases
HEALTH status indicators
HYGIENE
INFANT development
LEANNESS
MASTITIS
MOTHERS
PROTOZOAN diseases
QUESTIONNAIRES
RURAL conditions
SANITATION
T-test (Statistics)
MULTIPLE regression analysis
CROSS-sectional method
VERTICAL transmission (Communicable diseases)
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
ODDS ratio
DISEASE complications
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17408695
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Maternal & Child Nutrition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 137168615
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12756