Lactation and childhood mortality in an urban area in the Philippines.

Abstract

Based on a longitudinal study of 794 married women who delivered at F. Fabella Memorial Hospital in June-July 1973, the relationship between lactation and childhood mortality was extricated. The median length of breastfeeding was 9.1 months. The probability of dying for infants was highest in the 1st quarter of life. Of the 98 children who died in the first 2 years of life, 55 (56%) were not breastfed at all and 18 (18%) were weaned before death. 1/3 of the women who got pregnant were still lactating and 13% did so until the 4th month. The crucial period in intervention is the first 2 months of life when mortality is highest.