LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Susan Burger <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:46:04 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (27 lines)
Dear all:

Long long ago, there was a great study that actually debunked the nonsense that the high mortality rates among the poor are dramatically increased by formula feeding.  You canNOT look at rises and drops in mortality and associate those with anything -- that is known as ecological fallacy.  Association does not mean causation.

For a long time the formula industry challenged the very high mortality from formula use in developing areas because the studies were not as well designed as in developed areas.  They claimed it was merely poor study design.  It turns out it was really what is known as "effect modification".

In actually, Habicht J-P, DaVanzo J, & Butz WP.  Mother’s Milk and Sewage.  Their Interactive Effects on Infant Mortality.  Pediatrics. 1988;81 (3) 456-520. they found that the relative risk of infant death was 2.5 fold higher among infants who were not breastfed and in households with flush toilets and piped water than those who did breastfeed.   This climbed to 2.7 fold higher among infants who were not breastfed and lived in households with flush toilets and no piped water compared to those who were breastfed.  Here's the kicker -- the relative risk climbed to 5 fold higher among infants who were not breastfed and lived in households without flush toilets or piped water.  

So, the take message is that you have a much higher risk of death among babies who are not breastfed than those who are even in areas where water and sanitation are good and that risk of death is much higher when sanitation is poor.  

In general, studies on water and sanitation show that the order in which you must implement changes is to provide latrines, then ENOUGH water, than clean water.  If you don't have latrines or enough water, you're not really going to benefit that much from having too little clean water.

Best regards,

Susan E. Burger

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome

ATOM RSS1 RSS2