Relationship of Feeding with the Development of Diseases in Premature Infants

Abstract

Introduction: Bottle-feeding is associated with a higher risk of respiratory illnesses, diarrhea, and low weight. In addition, it produces short- and long-term complications in the newly born. Objective: To evaluate the relationship of feeding with the development of diseases in premature children treated in the health network of the Sistema Basico de Atencion Integral in the department of La Libertad. Methodology:  Quantitative focus, and design of cases and controls. The group sample consisted of 64 cases and 64 controls. The cases were premature children who were bottle fed, and the controls were premature children who were exclusively breast fed until 6 months of age corrected. Results: Found a 1.623 OR with 95% CI of 0.734 – 3.592 for diarrhea; however, the number is not significant. 2.435 OR with 95% CI of 1.197 – 4.958 for common cold shows 2 times bigger risk in bottle-fed premature children. 4.081 OR with 95% CI of 1.506 – 11.061 for pneumonia shows 4 times bigger risk in bottle-fed children. 1.306 OR with 95% CI of 0.637 – 2.677 for underweight at 6 months of age corrected, and 1.567 OR with 95% CI of 0.678 – 3.622 for underweight at 1 year of age corrected; both numbers are not significant. Conclusions: The children fed with breast-milk substitutes presented a higher risk for pneumonia and common cold compared with the premature children who were breast fed until 6 months of age corrected. The risk for diarrhea or inappropriate weight was not significative; however, from a clinical point of view, bottle-feeding has an adverse impact on diarrhea and weight gain.