DOES BREASTFEEDING REALLY SAVE LIVES, OR ARE APPARENT BENEFITS DUE TO BIASES?

Analysis of mothers' recall data collected in 1976–1977 by a probability survey in Peninsular Malaysia shows an association between breastfeeding up to six months of age and improved survival of infants throughout the first year of life. Inappropriate sample selection and inadequate control of confounding can introduce large biases in these analyses. The magnitude and direction of these biases are presented. Even when these biases are dealt...