Impact of exclusive breastfeeding on physical growth

BackgroundBreastfeeding is considered the gold standard in infant feeding, as it provides ideal nutrition for infants. Both World Health Organization (2016) and American Academy of Pediatrics (2012) recommend exclusive breastfeeding from birth until 6 months life.Aim: To investigate association between growth, measured by weight, height, head circumference compared with growth chart.Materials MethodsA cross-sectional retrospective community-based study was conducted a primary health care facility (Maternity Child Care Center) Shendi, River Nile State, Sudan. Data were collected 103 healthy infants who attended maternity child center using anthropometric measurements to Centers Disease Control Prevention chart.ResultsThe current found that most (96.2%) exclusively breastfed weighed within normal range chart 10th 90th percentile affected average height since all ranges. Exclusive however did not affect circumference.ConclusionsThere significant impact on weight infants, but never circumference. These findings support (WHO), Pediatrics, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recommendation during first life key development.