| Abstract: |
Normal growth needs appropriate nutrition . In the first months of birth, no doubt that breastfeeding is the most important feeding method which has value both immunologically and psychologically, in addition to providing adequate nutrition . Breast feeding has familial ,social and infantile significance.In the first 6 months , when infants have rapid growth, regular anthropometric measurements are appropriate for growth monitoring.The aim of this work was to assess growth of infants at age of 2 , 4 & 6 months clinically in relation to type of feeding.This work was done in Maternal and Infancy Health Care Center in El-Kafr El-Gadeed Primary Health Care Unit in El-Manzala City, Dakahlia Government.The infants were divided into 3 groups based on feeding type : 1) breast feeding, 2) bottle feeding & 3) both breast and bottle feeding (combined).The study included 494 apparently clinically healthy full term infants who their birth weight ranged from 2750 &3750 gm .The study was done in the period from December 2008 to May 2009.The infants were subjected to:1- Complete history taking including personal history , perintal history, medical history& nutritional history.2- Thorough clinical examination to exclude cardiac , chest , endocrinal or neurological condition which may affect growth.3- Measurements of weight ,length ,head circumference ,chest circumference & mid arm circumference.This study revealed the following:There are significant differences in growth parameters in the 3 feeding groups in the different age groups. We notice better growth parameters in breast fed infants than those of bottle fed. We also noticed better growth parameters in combined fed than those of pure bottle.As regard the time of beginning the combined feeding (in 6 mo age group) there were no significant difference of growth parameters in males that started combined feeding since birth or at 3 months of age.But there’s significant increase ( P value < 0.05) of growth parameters in females that started combined feeding only at 3 mo age than those who started it at birth ,except for chest circumference.Conclusion and Recommendations:- Breast feeding is important for ideal infant growth especially in the 1st 6 months of life.- It is better to postpone introduction of other feeding beside breast feeding for better growth at least until 6 mo of age.- Because of differences of growth patterns between the 3 groups in our study we recommend the development of special growth curves for breast fed infants in our community.- Accurate anthropometric techniques, quality equipment measurements are needed that is accurate and routinely to make sound judgments calibrated, and trained measures about growth who are reliable and accurate.
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