Role of breast feeding in preventing acquisition of roundworm and hookworm in Dhaka slum children

Breast feeding was found to give protection against many gastrointestinal infections in infants. A study has been conducted to examine whether breastfeeding protects children from contracting ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm infections. History of breast feeding and supplementation in urban children from low economic strata were obtained and stools were examined for ova of ascaris and hookworm. There was no significant difference in the presence of hookworm ova between the only breastfed group and the breastfed with supplemented group by two years of age. By the age of six and 24 months the presence of ascaris ova was significantly higher in the breastfed with supplemented group than the breastfed only group. It appears that exclusive breast feeding may have some role in preventing acquisition of ascaris infection in urban slums with poor sanitation facilities.