Breast-Feeding Is the Preferred Method of Infant Nutrition for Numerous Reasons - Research Proposal Example

Breast-feeding is the preferred method of infant nutrition for numerous reasons Introduction 1. Although breastfeeding infant is a personal decision by the mother, a number of organizations such as AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), ADA (American Dietetic Association) and WHO (World Health Organization) have given breastfeeding a thumb up compared to formula feed. Breastfeeding provides infant and children the needed nutrition as well as protection from infections such as ear infections, meningitis, and diarrhea (Lawrence, 2005). According to WHO report (2010), there are 35% of children under age five falling sick, 30% in the same age bracket are stunted and 18% have low weight for height all these are attributed to poor feeding. In addition it has been suggested that breastfeeding may protect children against asthma, diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome, obesity and allergies. All these have raised a lot of interest to researchers and scholars and it remains very controversial. Friedman and Zeiger (2005) suggested that exclusive breastfeeding opt to be carried out between 4 and 6 months and be supplemented with weaning there after but breastfeeding to be encouraged up to 2 years of age. However, there is very little evidence relating long-term breastfeeding and risk of asthma in the later life of the children. 2. The aim of the study is to assess the relations between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk of asthma later in life in Finland children. The specific objectives are; i) To find out whether breastfeeding helps prevents Finland children from risk of asthma ii) To determine the average period that Finland children are breastfed iii) To find out correlation between long-term breastfeeding and risk of asthma in children in Finland Research questions i) Does long-term breastfeeding of Finland children prevent them from risk of asthma later in their lives? ii) What is the average period that Finland children are breastfed? iv) What is the correlation between long-term breastfeeding and risk of asthma in Finland children? iii) Is breastfeeding important to Finland children? iv) What percentage of Finland children are breastfed long enough, over two years? 3. The study is of significance as it will critically analyze the relation between duration of breastfeeding and the risk of asthma later in life of children. This will help in laying grounds for further research on breastfeeding and prevention of asthma, allergies among others. The results obtained would be of beneficial to those in the medical fraternity, mothers, and the society at large and will be the basis especially for mother in making rational decision as whether to breastfeed their kids longer or use formula feed. The research will generally help solve the existing controversies about breastfeeding and asthma risks prevention. Not carrying out this research will clearly depict that the ‘hidden’ advantages of prolonged breastfeeding are not appreciated, which may lead to aggravation of using formula feeds hence poor immune system of children to infections. The research frame work will constitute three rectangles, connected by an arrow. At the center will have a rectangle that contains expected outcome while at the left and right of the first rectangle house independent variable and dependent variables. 4. Ho: There is no significant difference in the relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk of asthma later in life in Finland children. Ha: There is significant difference in the relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk of asthma later in life in Finland children. Methodology 1. The research design selected is experimental – randomized controlled clinical trial designs. This was arrived at after close scrutiny of International Study on Allergies and Asthma in childhood literature. I choose this design because, if properly executed which am capable of, it will provide the strongest evidence concerning the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and asthma risk to children later in their lives. The design, since it will employ random sampling will give the target population equal chances to be in the sample. In addition, RCT will give me an opportunity to allocate initial studied individuals to further groups that I can come later for follow up, in this case after the children studied have grown to adulthood, I can still make an effective follow up and sufficiently and effectively establish the between duration of breastfeeding and risk of asthma later in life (Gay, 1999). 2. The sample will be selected from Finland women who have infants and children. I will employ random sampling to acquire a desired sample. Simple random sampling will be used; this will give each and every breastfeeding woman in Finland a chance to be selected. In addition to this, stratified random sampling will also be done, in this I intend to select individuals who have breastfed their kids for the following periods, less than six months, more than six months, exclusively breastfed, and no breastfeeding. The age of the children in years will also be sampled in a stratified manner, 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 years (Patton, 1990). My study sample is infants and children in Finland between the ages of one day to twelve years old. The target population is breastfeeding mothers infants and children of Finland nationality. The groups of interest are those that do not breastfeed, those that exclusively breastfeed, those that breastfeed for less than six months and another group that breastfeed for more than six months. I intend to have five time points for data collection each within a period of 2 years interval. The sample will be selected using slovin’s formula; n=N/(1+(Nxe2), n=number of sample, N=total number of mother that have given birth within a specified time and e=margin of error usually 0.05%. the groups are divided into four; mothers who exclusively breastfed their kids to over six months, those breastfeeding for less than six months with supplement formula feed, those that breastfeed for more than six months with supplement formula feed and those that do not breastfeed their kids. Age of the mother will also be grouped into the following year brackets, below 20years, 21-30, 31-40 and 41+ 3. The variables in the study are duration of breastfeeding (independent) and risk of suffering from asthma later in life (dependent). Other potential confounders such as gender, age of the child, age of the mother upon birth of the child, mothers’ education level, and living condition are other independent variables. On the other hand, past history of mother concerning asthma were considered, current health condition of mother and child these are dependent. According to a research by Nagel et al, (2009) I hold that there is a correlation between protection against asthma and duration of breastfeeding. The study found out that; children breastfed longer were protected against non-atopic wheeze. The findings of Negel and others related to breastfeeding it reduced prevalence of asthma, in addition, there was no significant effect of breastfeeding duration in affluent countries but duration of exclusive breastfeeding was inversely associated asthma. The variables will be measured with regards to the numbers of years spent in breastfeeding. 4. The data will be collected by observation as well as administering of semi-structures parental questionnaire. The questionnaire will be distributed to the selected sample and either collected in the same day or later in the agreed day. According to Beiske, (2002) questionnaire covers a large population at time as they would be distributed to different participants at a time and be collected later or at the same day depending on the willingness of the responded, due to it being standardized they are more objective, data collected from questionnaire are easy to analyze, due to familiarity with the tool, responded will not be apprehensive, it is also very cost effective as compared to telephone interviews, the tool also reduces bias. The major problem with this tool, there is tendency of respondent to forget vital information, respondents may answers the questions superficially when it is a long one, to counter this I will develop a short but very inclusive questionnaire, due to standardization, there is no room for explanation incase respondents misinterpret or do not understand the questions I will also employ objective measurement in which I will take blood sample as well as skin prick testing. Observation will help to generate more accurate information. 5. The only anticipated error that may occur is when selecting the samples for the subsequent times, there are possibilities of only selecting samples that may not depict relationship between duration of breastfeeding and asthma risks. Similarly, there is a possibility of the mothers changing the way they feed their kid (using formula feed as a supplement, before the second sample collection), especially those that initially exclusively breastfed References Allen, P. & Bennett, K. (2008). SPSS for the Health and Behavioural Sciences. South Melbourne: Thomson Armitage, P., & Berry, G. (1994). Statistical Methods in Medical Research. Oxford: Balckwell Science. Beiske, B. (2002) Research Methods: Uses and Limitations of Questionnaires, Interviews, and Case Studies. Manchester: University of Manchester Brookmeyer, R. & Donna, F. (2004). Monitoring the Health of Populations. Oxford University, New York. Friedman and Zeiger (2005). The role of breast-feeding in the development of allergies and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol; 115, 1238-1248 John Gay (1999). Clinical Epidemiology & Evidence-Based Medicine Glossary: Clinical Study Design and Methods Terminology. Retrieved on 25th August 25, 2010 from http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/courses-jmgay/GlossClinStudy.htm Lawrence R. (1997). A review of the medical benefits and contraindications to breastfeeding in the United States Maternal and Child Health Technical Information Bulletin. Arlington, Va.: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. Nagel, G. (2009). Effect of Breastfeeding on Asthma, Lung function, and Bronchial Hyper reactivity in ISAAC-Phase-Two. Retrieved on 25th August 25, 2010 from,http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2009/01/22/09031936.00075708.full.pdf Ortiz, J. (2004). Duration of breast milk expression among working mothers enrolled in an employer-sponsored lactation program. Pediatr Nurse.; 30(2):111-119. Patton, M. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and Research Methods. SAGE Publications. Newbury Park London New Delhi. Peacock, J. & Kerry, S. (2007). Presenting Medical Statistics from Proposal to Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide. Oxford University, New York. Tabachnik, B., & Fidell, S. (1996). Using Multivariate Statistics (3rd Ed.). USA: Harper Collins. World Health Organization Report (2010). Infant and Young Child Feeding. Retrieved on 25th August 25, 2010 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs342/en/index.html Read More