Relationship of Breastfeeding on Infant Development in Surakarta

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is the healthiest diet for newborns since it has the best immune system of any food, has a wealth of advantages, and contains the right combination and amount of nutrients to promote an infant's growth and development, especially between the ages of 0 and 6 months. This study aimed to determine the impact of breastfeeding on infant’s development in Surakarta. Subjects and Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Community Health Centre in Surakarta, Central Java on March to August 2020. A total sample of 56 infants were selected for this study. The dependent variable was infant development. The independent variable was exclusive breastfeeding. The data collected by questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Chi-Square. Results: Infants who are exclusive breastfeeding have a 25.50 times chance of developing better com¬par¬ed to infants who are not exclusive breast¬feeding, and this is statistically significant (OR= 25.50; 95% CI= 1.14 to 572.30; p <0.001). Infant with exclusive breast¬feeding had a better commu-nication and social interaction at 6 months, and better cognition, communication, and social interaction at 12 months. Conclusion: The development of infants' psychological, linguistic, fine motor, and gross motor skills can be improved by exclusive breastfeeding. Keywords: breastfeeding, development, infants.