Table 5 Summary of included studies presenting estimates of association between early breastfeeding initiation and morbidity outcomes
From: Time to initiation of breastfeeding and neonatal mortality and morbidity: a systematic review
Study, Location | Sample Size | Study Design | Def of BF Exposure | Comment/Conclusions | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Malnutrition WAZ | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Appoh [29], Ghana, facility | 110 | case-control | early vs. late | Reported an association between early breastfeeding initiation and a reduction in underweight children | LOW |
Kumar [33], India, community | 217 | cross sectional survey | <6h vs. >6h | Reported an association between early breastfeeding initiation and a reduction in underweight children | LOW |
Malnutrition WLZ | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Engebretsen [32], Uganda, community | 723 | cross sectional survey | <2h vs 2-24h<2h vs>24h | There was no statistically significant relationship comparing >24hr&<24 hours to <2hours (reference) | LOW |
Kumar [33], India, community | 217 | cross sectional survey | <6h vs. >6h | The infant feeding practices studied were not significantly associated with wasting | LOW |
Malnutrition, LAZ | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Engebretsen [32], Uganda, community | 723 | cross sectional survey | <2h vs 2-24h<2h vs>24h | There was no statistically significant relationship comparing >24hr&<24 hours to <2hours (reference | LOW |
Kumar [33], India, community | 217 | cross sectional survey | <6h vs. >6h | Reported a significant association between early breastfeeding initiation and reduction in stunting | LOW |
Early Weight Loss | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Enzunga [23], Zaire, facility | 330 | prospective cohort | early vs. late | Reports a direct relationship between the delay in initiation of breast-feeding and subsequent weight loss | LOW |
Caglar [34], Turkey, facility | 90 | prospective matched case control | mean time to bf initiation | Infants with a weight loss of >10% were significantly more likely to have received their first breastfeeding later than controls | MEDIUM |
Diarrhea | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Badruddin [30], Pakistan, mixed facility/community | 265 | case-control | early vs. late | Reported a significant higher likelihood of late breastfeeding in cases (i.e. those with acute and/or persistent diarrhea) | LOW |
Clemens [19], Egypt, community | 198 | prospective cohort | <72h vs. >72h | Reported a significant association between early breastfeeding initiation and reduction in diarrhea in the first six months of life | LOW |
Acute Diarrhea | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Badruddin [30], Pakistan, mixed facility/community | 265 | case-control | early vs. late | Reported a significant higher likelihood of late breastfeeding in cases (i.e. those with acute diarrhea) | LOW |
Persistent Diarrhea | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Badruddin [30], Pakistan, mixed facility/community | 265 | case-control | early vs. late | Reported a significant higher likelihood of late breastfeeding in cases (i.e. those with persistent diarrhea) | LOW |
Omphalitis | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Mullany [26], Zanzibar, community | 1653 | prospective cohort | <1h vs. >=1h | Risk of omphalitis was 71% lower among babies breastfed within 1 hour | MEDIUM |
Mullany [25], Nepal, community | 17,198 | prospective cohort | early vs. late | There was no statistically significant evidence to suggest that early breastfeeding initiation is protective against omphalitis | MEDIUM |
Hypoglycemia | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Sasidharan [28], India, hospital | 604 | prospective cohort | early vs. late | Reported a significant association between early breastfeeding initiation and reduction in hypoglycemia | LOW |
Hypothermia | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Mullany [27], Nepal, community | 23,240 | prospective cohort | early vs. late | The adjusted prevalence rate of hypothermia was 16% lower among babies for whom bf was initiated w/in 24hours | MEDIUM |
Van den Bosch [35], Malawi, facility | 160 | randomized trial | Immediate vs. mother鈥檚 choice of initiation time | Reported a significant association between early initiation and a reduction in low body temperature | LOW |