Breastfeeding practices and weight gain predicted head circumference in young Amazonian children.

The human brain experiences intensive connectivity and size transformations after birth.1 Head circumference (HC) shows important increments in size, specifically in the first year; then, this growth rate decelerates over time.2 Identifying the different elements required for proper physical growth in children during critical periods is relevant for primary health care. The regression coefficients ( ) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by multiple linear regression, to assess the independent associations with HC z-score values at the follow-up visit. After multiple adjustments, there were number of variables that were positive predictors of the HC z-score in the first year of life, in addition to the child's age, primiparity, type of delivery and birthweight. [Extracted from the article]