A positive association between extended breast-feeding and nutritional status in rural Hubei Province, People's Republic of China

Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional nutrition surveillance survey to determine the association between extended breast-feeding and growth. The sample consisted of 2148 initially breast-fed children between 12 and 47 mo of age. Breast-feeding for24 mo was associated with a greater height-for-age Z score, and breast-feeding for18 mo was associated with greater weight-for-age and weight-for-height Z scores. These results remained significant after the number of food groups being consumed at 12 mo of age, age when the selected food items were first given to a child, the consumption of powered milk, recent infections, age, sex, birth order, birth weight, county of residence, father's occupation, and mother's education were controlled for. These results suggest that extended breast-feeding in this population, in which food was introduced late in infancy, was associated with improved nutritional status as measured by standard anthropometric indicators.A total of 2148 children 12-47 months of age participated in a cross-sectional nutritional surveillance survey in June 1990 in Hubei Province. Socioeconomic and medical information was obtained for each child from a parent. Weight and height information were converted to WA, HA, and WH Z-score values based on the standards of the National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/World Health Organization. 62% of the children were breast-fed for 12 mo. Powdered milk had been consumed by 20.6% of the children, and 13.1% of the mothers reported that their child had a recent infection. The group of children breast-fed for the shortest duration had a significantly lower mean HA Z score than the other 3 groups. The mean HA Z scores for the group aged 18-23 mo. were significantly lower than those for the groups aged 12-17 and 24-35 mo. The group of children who were breast-fed for 24 mo. had the greatest adjusted mean HA Z score. The group of children breast-fed for the shortest duration had a significantly lower mean WA Z score than the 2 groups who were breast-fed for the longest duration. Infants with low birth weight had a lower mean WA Z score, and birth weight was significantly associated with greater WA Z scores (P or= 0.001). Children breast-fed for 18 mo. had a greater adjusted mean WA Z score than did children breast-fed for less time (P or= 0.001). The mean WH Z score was significantly greater for the group aged 36-47 mo. compared with the 2 youngest age groups; and the WH Z score for the group aged 24-35 mo. was significantly greater than that for the group aged 12-17 mo. Infants with low birth weight had lower WH Z scores, and there was a significant correlation between birth weight and the current WH Z score (P or= 0.001).