Comparison study of growth status and Hb. Level in Iraqi breast and Artificial fed babies during infancy

A randomizes study has been done on 200 healthy breast artificial fed infants aged between 3-12 months with male to female ratio (1: 1) at Central Teaching Hospital for Children for period between 2 Jan. to 2 Jun. 1998 coming to the hospital for vaccination to assess the growth status and hematocrit level in term of weight for age percentile, head circumference age percentile and hematocrit values on venous samples. The result has shown a significant retardation in weight for length for age in artificially fed infant at ages of (7-9) months and (10-12) months, and significant low hematocrit level for breast fed babies at age (10-12) months. No significant relationship between growth and anemia. Also no significant relationship in growth and hematocrit in relation to sex. In conclusion breast milk is enough for optimal growth for infant below 1 year, but not for preventing the development of anemia.