To assess the association between breastfeeding and infant illness in the first 6 months of life, a prospective observational study was conducted on 224 infants delivered as service cases at Cebu Doctors Hospital. Observations of feeding mode and significant episodes of illness were made at 2 weeks of age and 1,2,4 and 6 months. Feeding mode was categorized as prolonged breast-feeding (92 infants), limited breast-feeding (55 infants), and artificial feeding (77 infants). Breast-feeding was associated with higher educational level in both parents and with increased maternal age. Infants given prolonged breast-feeding had significantly fewer illnesses during the first 6 months than those given limited breast-feeding and artificial feeding. After determination of the feeding mode at the onset of each illness, breast-fed infants were found to have a significantly lower incidence of lower respiratory infection (1.9 vs. 9.8 episodes per 1,000 patient-weeks) and diarrhea (3.2 vs. 13.8 episodes per 1,000 patient-weeks) than artificially-fed infants. No significant association was found between breast-feeding and otitis media. Likewise, breast-feeding did not appear to affect hospitalization. The protective effect of breast-feeding was independent of sex, birth weight, educational level of parents, maternal age, and family size. This study demonstrates that breast-feeding protects infants from infection.

Cebu Doctors' Proceedings, 1993 9 (1) pages 38-45