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Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

2004, Number 1

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Rev Biomed 2004; 15 (1)

Cost of infant feeding in infants born in a Mexican city

Bacardí-Gascón M, Covarrubias M, Jones E, Jiménez-Cruz A

Language: English
References: 21
Page: 3-9
PDF size: 41.47 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of the present study was to compare the effect on morbidity between infants fed mothers milk (breast milk) and artificial milk (formula) during the first six months of life and estimate the cost of medical care for illnesses, incurred by infants of mothers having entitlement to the Mexican Social Security health care system in Mexico.
Methods: This study includes seemingly healthy new born infants with a gestational age of 38 to 40 weeks and a minimum weight of 5.5 pounds, who were followed for six months. The mothers of new infants were interviewed at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Tijuana, Mexico. The variables studied were age, gender, type of feeding, weight, height, morbidity, the number of medical consultations, hospitalization, clinical analysis, the cost of feeding infant foods and the additional cost of foods consumed by the lactating mother.
Results: At the end of the 6th month: 42% continued with breast milk exclusively, 5.5% with breast milk and juices, 15% with breast milk and infant foods. Of the formula fed infants 20% were formula fed, 3% were given formula and juices, and 12% formula and baby food. Contracting illnesses was positively associated with formula fed infants, (RR= 1.36; 95% CI= 0.99,1.87). The cost of feeding infants exclusively with formula was four times greater than the estimated costs of the supplementary foods consumed by the lactating mothers.
Conclusions: The risk of illness for the breastfed infants and the cost of supplementary foods for the lactating mothers were lower than the formula fed group.


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