Effect of breastfeeding on the prevention of gastrointestinal infections in children under 5 years of age
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Breastfeeding is the process by which a mother feeds her infant with milk from her mammary glands, providing nutrition and immune protection. The WHO points to it as a natural mechanism of immunization and protection against disease, especially in vulnerable contexts. The objective is to generate local evidence that strengthens public health strategies to promote breastfeeding and reduce infant morbidity, through an exploratory literature review in scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO, selecting recent articles from the last five years. Descriptors related to breastfeeding and gastrointestinal diseases were used, and a qualitative content analysis was performed, extracting patterns and gaps in the evidence. The results show that exclusive breastfeeding significantly reduces gastrointestinal infections in children, decreasing the incidence of acute diarrhea. Breast milk provides immunological factors that strengthen the infant's immune system, acting as a protective shield. In addition, the practice has a favorable impact on public health by reducing healthcare costs and improving health equity, although it still faces social and cultural barriers that limit its reach. It is concluded that breastfeeding is an effective and cost-effective strategy for preventing gastrointestinal infections in infancy contributing to the healthy development of children and the sustainability of the healthcare system, as well as having positive implications for the economy and social welfare.
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