Objective: To investigate the effect of the method of feeding on respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses during the first six months of life.
Methods: Observational study of infants feeding practice and respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in first six months who were born in Gynecology-Obstetric department in period from May-September 2004, who weighed 2500 gm or more and at least 37 gestation weeks. In that period was born 1838 babies. Dates were collected by means of answered questionnaires.
Results: We sent 612 questionnaires and 518 (85%) were answered. From 493 eligible questionnaires 395 (80.1%) infants were breastfed, and 98 (20%) formula fed. A total of 279 episodes of illnesses were observed in 493 infants. These infants had on average 1.76 episodes of illnesses. The crude incidence density ratio (IDR) revealed a protective effect of breastfeeding on respiratory illnesses (IDR = 059; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44-0.79), for gastrointestinal illnesses (IDR = 0.50; CI, 0.24-0.86) and on all illnesses (IDR = 0.58; CI 0.45-0.86). The IDR adjusted in turn for infant's age, mother's age, socioeconomic status and cigarette consumption in family were similar to the crude IDR.
Conclusion: the results of this study suggest a protective effect of breastfeeding against respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses.