Abstract Digest: Issue 6, October 2011
In each issue of Abstract Digest, Alive & Thrive summarizes recently published research, highlighting key information about infant and young child feeding practices as well as program implications. Clicking on the title will take you to the longer A&T summary.
In a cluster-randomized trial, Bangladeshi mothers who received education and coaching on responsive feeding and stimulation engaged in more interactive talk with their infants and provided more opportunities for child stimulation at home; their children also had better language skills and feeding behaviors.
A multi-country cluster randomized trial showed that exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) promotion by peer counselors in 3 sub-Saharan countries increased EBF rates. Low-intensity community-based individual breastfeeding counseling appears to be achievable in these settings.
A systematic review of 18 studies examining the association between breastfeeding and diarrheal disease determined that breastfeeding is protective against diarrhea incidence and prevalence; mortality due to diarrhea and all-cause mortality; and hospitalizations for diarrhea.
Data from three National Family Health Surveys in India showed little statistical support for the idea that childhood undernutrition could be addressed primarily through national economic growth.
A randomized controlled trial in Spain determined that 2 hours of skin-to-skin contact between mother-infant pairs helped regulate infant body temperature, expel the placenta, and increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding upon hospital discharge, but not at 1 month postpartum.