Breast-feeding initiation time and neonatal mortality risk among newborns in South India

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2011

Journal

Journal of Perinatology

Volume

31

Issue

6

DOI

10.1038/jp.2010.138

Keywords

Breast-feeding; care practices; India; mortality; neonatal

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between breast-feeding initiation time and neonatal mortality in India, where breast-feeding initiation varies widely from region to region. Study Design: Data were collected as part of a community-based, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the impact of vitamin A supplementation in rural villages of Tamil Nadu, India. Multivariate binomial regression analysis was used to estimate the association between neonatal mortality and breast-feeding initiation time (<12 h, 12 to 24 h, >24 h) among infants surviving a minimum of 48 h. Result: Among 10 464 newborns, 82.1% were first breast-fed before 12 h, 13.8% were breast-fed between 12 and 24 h, and 4.1% were breast-fed after 24 h. After adjusting for birth weight, gestational age and other covariates, late initiators (>24 h) were at ∼78% higher risk of death (relative risk=1.78 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03 to 3.10)). There was no difference in mortality risk when comparing babies fed in the first 12 h compared with the second 12 h after birth. Conclusion: Late (>24 h) initiation of breast-feeding is associated with a higher risk of neonatal mortality in Tamil Nadu. Emphasis on breast-feeding promotion programs in low-resource settings of India where early initiation is low could significantly reduce neonatal mortality. © 2011 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.

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