Relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and infant development at 9 months: Results of a cross-sectional study in Hai Duong province

Tran Huu Bich*, Hoang Thi Thu Thuy

Hanoi University of Public Health

Objective: To describe exclusive breastfeeding practices and identify association between exclusive breastfeeding and infant development at 9 months.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on a population of 210 infants aged 9 months and mothers in 25 communes in two districts of Hai Duong province. Infant development was assessed using self-administered Age and Stage Questionnaire (ASQ-3) tools by the mother. Exclusive breastfeeding practices from 4 to 6 months were reported by mother’s recall method since birth.

Main findings: Exclusive breastfeeding rate from 4-6 months was 11.9%. The mean of general ASQ was 206 ± 42. The differences of the means between EBF and non EBF groups for general ASQ and problem solving domain were 10.3 (p=0,31) and 6.5 (p<0.05 after controlling for potential confounding factors).

Conclusions: Exclusive breastfeeding was associated ability of problem solving of children measured by ASQ-3. The positive association between EBF and infant development should be further studied with a stronger research design. Health staff may still use this result as an evidence in promoting exclusive breastfeeding.

Key words: Exclusive breastfeeding, infant development, ASQ-3, Vietnam.
 

*Corresponding author: Tran Huu Bich

Work place: Hanoi University of Public Health

Email: thb@huph.edu.vn