The results indicate that the reduction in morbidity associated with formula supplementation is of sufficient magnitude to be of public health significance. The use of these preparations provides an effective method for the prevention of diarrheal diseases.
The vitamin C content of breastmilk was investigated in a group of nursing mothers attending maternal and child health centers in Baghdad during 1998-2000. Two hundred healthy, nonsmoking, 28- to 38-year-old lactating women were studied. Individual samples of breastmilk were obtained for estimation of vitamin C. Dietary data were collected by using 24-hour food recalls. The mean intake of vitamin C was far below the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization requirement of 26 +/- 2.13 (SD) mg/day). The vitamin C content of breastmilk was significantly correlated with the maternal intake of vitamin C (r = 0.61, p < .01). The vitamin C content of breastmilk varied with the season. The level was much higher in summer (3.9 +/- 1.05 mg/100 ml) than in winter (3.02 +/- 2.01 mg/100 ml; p < .05). This fluctuation indicates the dependence of breastmilk vitamin C on dietary intake. The results show the need to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits and to monitor maternal ascorbic acid intake.
This study is part of a national nutrition survey conducted in Iraq during 1992 and 1993. Anthropometric measurements were obtained in 3,616 children under five years of age. Of those children, 24% were diagnosed as moderately undernourished and 6% as severely undernourished by mid-upper-arm circumference measurements. According to weight-for-height, only 11% were diagnosed as moderately undernourished and 3% as severely undernourished. The discrepancy between the results of these two measurements can be minimized by establishing a new cut-off level for mid-upper-arm circumference for defining malnutrition in our population.
In a national nutrition survey conducted in Iraq during 1992 to 1994, anthropometric measurements were obtained from 3,616 children under five years of age. Wasting was found in 10.8% and stunting in 21%. The nutritional status of children was worse in southern Iraq than in Baghdad. Although classical nutritional diseases disappeared from the country many years ago, the survey found signs of marasmus in 17.5% of the children and kwashiorkor in 0.3%. Iodine-deficiency disorders and anemia were also public health problems. Information on infant feeding practices was gained from mothers by direct interview. Wasting was much more frequent among formula-fed children than among breastfed children (49.3% vs 28.9%, p < .01). Less than 60% of the latter were exclusively breastfed during the first four months of life. Iraqi women are in great need of breastfeeding-promotion programs. Well-planned health and nutritional intervention programs for children under five years of age are also essential.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.