The Effects of Breast Feeding on Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
Cognitive development in children is influenced by several factors such as genetic and environmental factors (Angelsen, 2001). A child possesses genes' needed for cognitive development. Factors such as adequate nutrition and parents' ability to provide a conducive environment can positively impact a child's cognitive development. However, breastfeeding is an essential aspect of food to children, providing health-related advantages to both the child and the mother. Breastfeeding has the evident advantage for the reduction of morbidity and mortality against infectious diseases to newborn babies. Among the health benefits include prevention from illness such as gastrointestinal illness, respiratory tract infection, and prevention of diseases such as asthma and allergies.
Several additional factors have a clear link concerning cognitive development, such as breastfeeding. Several research and studies have shown a visible relationship between breastfeeding and mental development in children. Hoefer and Hardy were the first individuals to survey this topic in 1929. First, breastfed kids are associated with a wide range of enhanced brain functionality compared to formula-fed children. Based on (Anderson, 1999), meta-analysis has reported that newborn babies who breastfed have higher intelligence quotients (IQ). According to the study, the high intelligence in a breastfed instant was constant and stable through successive ages. A more recent study supports this finding in which a meta-analysis of 17 studies has shown a higher IQ of up to 3.44 points.
Research by (Kim, 2020) constitutes a random experiment considering previous studies has also indicated higher Intelligence Quotient in terms of verbal, performance IQ and generally full-scale IQ among breastfeeding infant by 7.5,2.9 and 5.9 points in that order. Additionally, the
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