The evolutionary ecology of early weaning in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Proc Biol Sci
; 280(1768): 20131359, 2013 Oct 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23926151
ABSTRACT
Public health recommendations promote prolonged breastfeeding of all children; however, parental investment (PI) theory predicts that breastfeeding will be allocated among a mothers' offspring to maximize her reproductive success. We evaluated PI in terms of risk for weaning before age two among 283 children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Results demonstrate (i) a Trivers-Willard effect--high socioeconomic status (SES) females and low SES males were more likely to be weaned early; (ii) later-born children were less likely to be weaned early; (iii) higher birthweight children were less likely to be weaned early, and (iv) no effect of cattle (a source of supplementary milk) ownership. These associations were largely independent and remained significant in models controlling for potential confounders; however, the inverse association between early weaning and birth order lost significance in the model containing birthweight. These patterns were observed despite public health recommendations encouraging breastfeeding for at least two years.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Classe Social
/
Desmame
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Aleitamento Materno
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Animals
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
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Newborn
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article