Comparison between breastfeeding and artificial feeding among infants with acute gastroenteritis in Al-Azizyia General Hospital

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was performed in Al-Azizyia general hospital in Wasit province for a sample of one hundred ten cases which was conveniently collected from the words and the outpatient clinic throughout July, August, and September 2020. All mothers were chosen and aged from 18 to 41 years old. 110 cases of infants of both sexes were included, their ages range from 1 to 12 months. By using the questionnaire data concerning, acute gastroenteritis, age of the infants, the sex of the infant, residency, type of feeding, level of education of mother, mother age, the job of father, and the job of mother. We found that 85 (77.2 %) of the collected sample were found to be non-beast-fed infants, while the rest of the sample 25 (22.7 %), breast-fed infants. Most of our patients were from rural areas 60(54.5 %) and the rest from urban areas 50 (45.4 %). Most of our patients were male 71 (64.5 %) and the rest were females (35.5 %). The infants below six months of age 61 (55.4 %) are more than those above six months 49 (44.5 %). The age of mothers between 20, and 30 years old 73 (66.36 %) is more than that of mothers aged above 30 to 37 years (25.45 %) which is more than that of mothers aged below 20 to 9 (8.18 %). Most of the mothers were housewives 105 (95.4 %) and the rest were workers 5 (4.6 %). Most of the fathers were unemployed 87 (79.1 %) and the rest were employed 23 (20.9 %). Mothers with a primary level of education are 80 (72.7 % are more than the mothers with a secondary level 24 (21.8 %) which is more than those with a higher level 6 (5.4 %).