RELATIONSHIP OF BREAST-FEEDING AND FORMULA-FEEDING PRACTICES WITH INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES IN AN URBAN-POOR POPULATION

The article reports a study examining symptoms of infection and use of medications and the health care system by breastfeeding or formula-fe eding urban poor mothers. A prospective, self-report design was used. Mothers completed a demographic and anthropometric questionnaire, an i nfection checklist, and a medication and health care system sun ev. Re sults showed that more of the breastfeeders were white, older, and eco nomically better off than formula feeders. Scores on the infection che cklist were higher for those feeding their infants by bottle. Colds, r ashes, episodes of vomiting, ear infections, colic, and health care ut ilization were less frequent for breastfed infants. This small study s uggests that there is a protective effect of breastfeeding, in this po pulation and provides a basis for larger epidemiologic and cross-secti onal studies.