Abstract
Infant feeding decisions affect maternal and child health outcomes, worldwide. Even in settings with clean water and good sanitation, infants who are not breast-fed face an increased risk of infectious, as well as non-infectious morbidity and mortality. The decision not to breast-feed can also adversely affect mothers' health by increasing the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type II diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. Clinicians who counsel mothers about the health impact of infant feeding and provide evidence-based care to maximize successful breast-feeding, can improve the short and long-term health of both mothers and infants.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 155-162 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Perinatology |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Breast feeding
- Epidemiology
- Health promotion
- Quality of health care
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Obstetrics and Gynecology