Breastfeeding promotion reduces infants' risk of gastrointestional infection and atopic eczema

Contact: Arlette Cote, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University
(514) 934-44307; [email protected]

Embargo: Monday, May 15, 8 am

Dr. Michael S. Kramer of The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre will be presenting recent findings on the benefit of breastfeeding for infant health at the joint meeting of the Pediatric American Societies (PAS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) from May 12 to 16 in Boston.

Potential bias in previous studies has led medical professionals to doubt the degree, and even the existence, of breastfeeding's health benefits in industrialized settings. Dr. Kramer, with his Canadian and Belarussian colleagues, conducted a cluster-randomized trial of a breastfeeding promotion intervention modeled on the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. This trial was conducted in the Republic of Belarus.

Full-term singleton infants weighing at least 2500 grams were enrolled in the study if their mothers planned to breastfeed. At six intervals (1, 2, 3, 6, 9 & 12 months), data were collected on infant feeding, gastrointestinal and respiratory infection and rashes. A total of 17,046 subjects were recruited at 31 randomized Belarussian maternity hospitals and their affiliated polyclinics.

The findings show that infants exposed to the intervention were significantly more likely to be breast-fed throughout the first year of life and had significant reductions in their risk of gastrointestional infection and atopic eczema, but no significant reduction in respiratory infection. Promotion of breastfeeding is likely to reduce infant morbidity, and perhaps even mortality in industrialized countries.

Dr. Kramer is a professor in the McGill University Faculty of Medicine in the Departments of Pediatrics and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He will be presenting this research at the annual meeting of the PAS and AAP on Monday, May 15 at 8:00 a.m., in room 311 of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

This joint meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies (the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research and the Ambulatory Pediatric Association) and the American Academy of Pediatrics will take place from May 12 to May 16 and is a chance for professionals to come together and share new research and findings on pediatrics in child health.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: During the Meeting, Dr. Kramer can be reached through the press room in Boston from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., May 12 - 16, 2000, telephone number (617) 954-2521. Any requests after this date should be directed to The Montreal Children's Hospital Public Affairs Office.

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