Delayed breastfeeding initiation and infant survival: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Emily R. Smith, Lisa Hurt, Ranadip Chowdhury, Bireshwar Sinha, Wafaie Fawzi, Karen M. Edmond, Neovita Study Group

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    206 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objective: To assess the existing evidence regarding breastfeeding initiation time and infant morbidity and mortality. Study design: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Popline, LILACS, AIM, and Index Medicus to identify existing evidence. We included observational studies and randomized control trials that examined the association between breastfeeding initiation time and mortality, morbidity, or nutrition outcomes from birth through 12 months of age in a population of infants who all initiated breastfeeding. Two reviewers independently extracted data from eligible studies using a standardized form. We pooled effect estimates using fixed-effects meta-analysis. Results: We pooled five studies, including 136,047 infants, which examined the association between very early breastfeeding initiation and neonatal mortality. Compared to infants who initiated breastfeeding 1 hour after birth, infants who initiated breastfeeding 2–23 hours after birth had a 33% greater risk of neonatal mortality (95% CI: 13–56%, I2 = 0%), and infants who initiated breastfeeding 24 hours after birth had a 2.19-fold greater risk of neonatal mortality (95% CI: 1.73–2.77, I2 = 33%). Among the subgroup of infants exclusively breastfed in the neonatal period, those who initiated breastfeeding 24 hours after birth had an 85% greater risk of neonatal mortality compared to infants who initiated <24 hours after birth (95% CI: 29–167%, I2 = 33%). Conclusions: Policy frameworks and models to estimate newborn and infant survival, as well as health facility policies, should consider the potential independent effect of early breastfeeding initiation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere0180722
    JournalPLoS One
    Volume12
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 26 Jul 2017

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