Effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim To update a previous systematic review and meta‐analyses about the effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth. Methods Studies evaluating the effect of any type of breastfeeding promotion intervention on child weight, length (or height) and weight/height (or BMI) were screen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Paediatrica 2015-12, Vol.104 (S467), p.20-29
Main Authors: Giugliani, Elsa R.J., Horta, Bernardo L., Loret de Mola, Christian, Lisboa, Bernardo O., Victora, Cesar G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Americas
Anthropometry
Asia
Body Height
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Breast Feeding - statistics & numerical data
Breastfeeding promotion
Child
Child Development
Child growth
Child, Preschool
Confidence intervals
Europe
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Oceania
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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Summary:Aim To update a previous systematic review and meta‐analyses about the effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth. Methods Studies evaluating the effect of any type of breastfeeding promotion intervention on child weight, length (or height) and weight/height (or BMI) were screened. Papers published between 2006 and 2014 were checked using the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Lilacs and SciELO. Results Sixteen studies were added to 19 other studies identified in the previous review, resulting in 35 studies. Meta‐analyses of studies reporting on mean weight, length, weight/length or BMI showed that the interventions had no impact on weight or length/height z scores [pooled effect: 0.03 (95% confidence interval: −0.06;0.12) and 0.03 (95% confidence interval: −0.02;0.08), respectively] and had a modest, but significant, reduction in body mass index/weight‐for‐height z scores [z score mean difference: −0.06 (95% confidence interval: −0.12;0.00)], which was limited to studies from low‐ and high‐incomes settings. For all three outcomes, there was important heterogeneity among studies, which should be taken into account when interpreting the results. Conclusion Breastfeeding promotion interventions were not associated with significant changes in weight or length, but led to a modest, albeit significant, reduction in body mass index/weight‐for‐height z scores.
ISSN:0803-5253
1651-2227
DOI:10.1111/apa.13160