Physical violence during pregnancy: maternal complications and birth outcomes

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Weight: 61 KB
• Volume: 44
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0091-2182
• DOI: 10.1016/s0091-2182(99)00063-4

✦ Synopsis

infants have increased from 54.3% in 1988 to 62.4% in 1997. Six-month breastfeeding rates have also increased for all infants from 19.5% to 26.0% during the same years. The rates for low birth weight infants have also increased (2). Although it is reassuring that breastfeeding is on the rise, it is apparent that the overall percentages are low. It is important to note that the data collection tool was a questionnaire that asked mothers whether or not they had breastfed their infant, but did not address the dose. Doserelated data would be far more useful for evidence-based practice; it is advisable for midwives in clinical practice to consistently document dose-related breastfeeding.

The health criteria selected for study by Raisler and authors are of relevance for further research. Cough and wheeze, which are signs of respiratory illness, were found to decrease in the full breastfeeders. Childhood asthma has been prioritized as one of New York City's most serious health challenges; 38% of homeless children in the city's shelters have the illness (3). It would be worthwhile to study whether infant breastfeeding is protective of such future illnesses as childhood asthma.