Objective: This was a prospective comparative study carried out from April 2011 to
February 2012 to assess the growth pattern of exclusively breast fed (EBF) and nonexclusively
breast fed infants (NEBF) in the first six months of life.
Methods:Atotal of 213 lactating mothers and their neonates (less than 7 days) weighing
=2.5kg were consecutively recruited into the study and followed up at 6,14 and 24
weeks. Infants were classified into EBF and NEBF groups based on their current feeding
pattern during the follow up. Anthropometric measurements of weight and length were
taken and compared with WHO reference curves. Data analysis was carried out using
frequencies, percentages, means (SD) and t-test.
Results: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding declined from 82.5% at delivery to 23% at
the end of 24 weeks. The NEBF infants were heavier and longer at birth (P>0.05). The
EBF infants had higher weight (28 Vs 22g/day) and length gain of (0.77 Vs 0.70cm/week)
from 0 to 14 weeks than their NEBF counterpart (p>0.05). Despite a decline in weight
th gain of EBF infants after the 14 week, they retained the higher mean weight achieved
earlier. Average cumulative weight and length gain of 3.71kg Vs 3.31kg and 15.33cm Vs
14.56cm were recorded for EBF and NEBF infants, respectively during the 24 weeks
follow up. The mean weight and length of the EBF infants was comparable to the World
Health organization (WHO) reference curve than for the NEBF infants. Conclusion:
This study has shown that exclusive breastfeeding supported adequate growth in infants
studied during the first six months of life.