Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the association between
the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and morbidity (diarrhoeal
diseases and acute respiratory infection) in infants aged 0-3 month(s)
using the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2003 data from
Bangladesh. The study population included 1,633 infants aged 0-3
month(s). The prevalence of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection
was compared using the chi-square tests between infants aged 0-3
month(s) who were exclusively breastfed and infants who were not
exclusively breastfed. Logistic regression was used to adjust for
confounders and for calculating adjusted odds ratios. To adjust for
cluster sampling and reduced variability, the adjusted chi-square value
was divided by the design effect, and a reestimated p value was
calculated. The prevalence of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection
in this sample of 0-3-month old infants in Bangladesh was 14.3% and
31.2% respectively. The prevalence of both illnesses was significantly
associated with lack of exclusive breastfeeding. The adjusted odds
ratio for diarrhoea was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.98,
p=0.039), and the adjusted odds ratio for acute respiratory infection
was also 0.69 (95% CI 0.54-0.88, p=0.003). Only 192 infants (11.7% of
total sample) were exclusively breastfed at the time of interview, and
823 infants (50.3%) were never exclusively breastfed. The prevalence of
prelacteal feeding was 66.6%. The results confirmed a protective effect
of exclusive breastfeeding against infectious diseases-related
morbidity in infancy and showed that frequently-collected
cross-sectional datasets could be used for estimating effects. The low
prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Bangladesh needs to be
improved to decrease child morbidity.