Association between exclusive breastfeeding duration and the quality of complementary feeding at 12 months of age

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between exclusive breastfeeding duration and the quality of complementary feeding at 12 months of age. Methods: This cohort study was nested in a randomized clinical trial designed to assess the effect of a pro-breastfeeding, pro-healthy complementary feeding intervention aimed at adolescent mothers and maternal grandmothers on the prevalence of breastfeeding and the intake of a healthy diet in the first year of life. Data on infant feeding in the first year of life were obtained monthly in the first 6 months and bimonthly thereafter up to 12 months via telephone interviews with the caretaker or home visits. A healthy, diverse diet was defined as the intake of fruits/vegetables, meat, beans, and cereals/tubers at least four times weekly and a low consumption (once weekly maximum) of foods rich in fat, salt, and sugar. The association between exclusive breastfeeding duration, expressed in absolute values, and intake of a healthy, diverse diet was tested using Poisson regression analysis. Results: The likelihood of the infant being on a healthy, diverse diet at 12 months of age increased by 28% for each additional month of exclusive breastfeeding (relative risk [RR] 1.28; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.19-1.38). Conclusions: This study reinforces the hypothesis of a positive association between the longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the intake of a healthier diet in infants.