The effects of breastfeeding and birth spacing on infant and early childhood mortality in Ethiopia

Research conducted in developing countries clearly demonstrates the positiv e effects of breastfeeding and widely spaced births on infant survival. The evidence is less clear as to whether these beneficial effects extend into early childhood, and under what conditions. In this paper we examine the ef fects of breastfeeding and birth spacing on neonatal, post-neonatal, and ea rly childhood mortality in Ethiopia using data from the 1990 National Famil y and Fertility Survey. Our results provide clear evidence that the increas ed mortality risks associated with closely-spaced births continue beyond th e first year of life into early childhood. Competition between siblings for food and maternal attention is the most probable explanation for this find ing. We also find that breastfeeding beyond the second year of life is asso ciated with higher mortality. Given that delayed weaning in Ethiopia is a c ommon response to food shortages, we interpret this finding as further evid ence of the negative consequences of resource deprivation for child surviva l.