Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration, Infant Growth, and Infectious Morbidity in Term Infants: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first 6 months may support infant growth and reduce common infections, although early introduction of other feeds remains frequent. Evidence examining growth and infectious morbidity together in Egyptian primary healthcare settings is limited. Aim: This study assessed associations between EBF duration, growth, and maternal-reported infectious morbidity among healthy term infants in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 398 healthy term infants attending 10 primary healthcare and vaccination centers. Infants were categorized by EBF duration (<6 or ≥6 months). Outcomes were World Health Organization weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), and weight-for-length (WLZ) Z-scores, estimated monthly weight and length gain, and maternal-reported diarrhea or gastroenteritis, acute respiratory illness, otitis media, and any infectious illness. Linear mixed-effects models evaluated repeated growth measures, and Poisson regression estimated morbidity incidence. Results: EBF was maintained for ≥6 months by 215 infants (54.0%). At 12 months, infants in the ≥6-month group had higher WAZ and LAZ than those in the <6-month group, with differences of 0.39 (95% CI 0.23–0.55) and 0.43 (95% CI 0.27–0.59), respectively. Monthly weight and length gains were greater by 54 g and 0.14 cm. The ≥6-month group had lower rates of any infectious illness (IRR 0.68), diarrhea or gastroenteritis (IRR 0.49), acute respiratory illness (IRR 0.69), and otitis media (IRR 0.53). Each additional month of EBF was associated with higher WAZ and LAZ and lower infectious morbidity (IRR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.96). Conclusion: EBF for ≥6 months was associated with higher WAZ and LAZ and fewer maternal-reported infectious episodes during infancy.
Source: Egyptian Journal of Health Care
Authors: Miada Mohamed Ali Hanfy, Tasneem Adel Gomaa Mohamed, Tasneem Abdelhalim Mohmoud, Taghreed Akmal Sayed Ahmed, Taghreed Ali Ibrahim Mohamed Salem, Taghreed Mohamed Mohamed Abdelhalim, Tasneem Abdelraoof Abdelraoof, Taqwa Mohamed Abdelaleem Ali, Toka Yasser Abdelmohsen Metwally, Tawfek Ahmed Tawfek Ahmed, Thrwat Elsayed Mohamed
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222880304