Background Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. According to the 2007 Indonesian National Household Health Survey, only 23% of mothers exclusively breastfeed for six months.Objectives To determine the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia, to evaluate factors associated with infant feeding practices, and to compare the nutritional and developmental status between exclusively-breastfed and formula-fed infants.Methods A survey was conducted in hospitals located in 17 provinces in Indonesia. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was calculated. Many variables were investigated as potential predictors for exclusive breastfeeding using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Further analysis was performed to compare the nutritional and developmental status between exclusively breastfed and formula-fed infants at the time of survey.Results From 1,804 infant subjects, the overall rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 46.3%, ranging from 10.5% in East Java to 66.9% in Jambi. Predominant breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and formula feeding rates were 14.3%, 8.6%, and 30.7%, respectively. Maternal unemployment was associated with a longer duration of breastfeeding (P=0.000). There were significantly more formula-fed infants who were undernourished compared to exclusively-breastfed infants (14% vs. 8%, P=0.001). There were also significantly more infants in the formula-fed group who had abnormal head circumference compared to those in the exclusively-breastfed group (9% vs. 6%, P=0.031). Child development, as assessed by the Pre-screening Developmental Questionnaire, was similar between the two groups (P=0.996).Conclusion The overall rate of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia is 46.3%. Maternal unemployment is associated with longer duration of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfed infants have significant better growth and head circumference compared to formula fed infants, while the development is similar between the two groups.

Background Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. According

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare some pulmonary functions of thalassemic patients and those of normal children. Factors correlated with lung dysfunction were assessed.Methods This cross-sectional study compared some pulmonary functions of thalassemic patients with those of healthy children. The study was performed in the Department of Child Health, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. Pre-and post-transfusion hemoglobin levels of the thalassemic subjects were determined. Other data such as chelation therapy and serum ferritin levels were also obtained. Both thalassemic and control subjects underwent routine physical examinations and lung function tests using an electronic spirometer. Spirometry was repeated three times for each subject, and only the best result was recorded.Results Sixty-three thalassemic patients were enrolled, consisting of 32 male and 31 female subjects. Healthy subjects consisted of 31 males and 31 females. Most thalassemic patients (46/63) were found to have lung function abnormalities. This was significantly different from control subjects, of whom most (39/62) had normal lung function. Restrictive lung function abnormality was the most common (42/63) observation documented. Serum ferritin levels were obtained from 28 male and 29 female thalassemic subjects. There was no correlation between percentage from predicted forced vital capacity and serum ferritin levels, whether in male (r=0.191; P=0.967) or female (r =-0.076, P=0.695) thalassemic subjects. Conclusion

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Objective This study aims to compare peak expiratory flow mea-surement by peak flow meter and electronic spirometer in healthyelementary school children.Methods This was a cross-sectional study performed in an el-ementary school near Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital (SDNPegangsaan 01). The study group consisted of healthy childrenaged 6-12 year old. Data regarding identity and history of illnesswas taken in each subject. Routine physical examination was per-formed and recorded. Each subject performed lung function testsby means of electronic spirometer AS-7 as well as by Mini-Wrightpeak flow meter. The subject should perform a minimum of threemaneuvers for each method where only the best result was re-corded. Method comparison test to assess agreement betweentwo methods was employed in this study.Results There were 10 males and 15 females enrolled in this study.None of the subjects currently have any respiratory symptoms andsigns. This study found that the mean peak expiratory flow (PEF) byspirometer was 226.8±73.13 L/min while by peak flow meter was223.0±45.05. Mean difference between spirometer and peak flowmeter measurements is 6.2 with standard deviation of 60.82. Thesevalues resulted in limits of agreement of -115.44 to +127.84 L/min.Conclusions This study finds disagreement between electronicspirometer and Mini-Wright peak flow meter in measuring peakexpiratory flow, therefore these two devices cannot be usedinterchangeably. Mini-Wright peak flow meter still has a role inhome monitoring, but the physician should interpret the resultscarefully.