Breast feeding as a protective factor against otitis media in Thi-Qar

الملخص EN

Acute Otitis Media is extremely common in children-in fact, 75 % of children have at least one episode by one year of age.

Theoretically, in order to quantify the health effects of breastfeeding all beneficial effects and harmful effects of each substance in human milk should be compared with all beneficial and harmful effects of formula feeding.

However, studies on the health effects for each compound in human milk and in formula are not available.

So a cross sectional analytical epidemiological study extended from the 1st week of October 2009 till the last week of February 2010.

The finding of the researchers was as follow : The most common characters of occurrence of acute otitis media was more among children of age less than 1 year, urban, male, of unemployed mother, educated mother and bottle feeding.

While chronic Otitis Media is mainly among 1-yrs, urban, male, non employed.

Educational status of the mother and mixed and bottle feeding has the same percentages.

The independent variable which affect the occurance of Otitis Media is type of feeding {breast feeding is protective}.

From the point of view of keeping ears healthy and avoiding otitis media and other infections, breast-feeding is best for infants.

Just as clearly, if parents cannot breast feed, it is critical to use feeding bottles that are designed to prevent nipple collapse and air bubble formation.