BREASTFEEDING AND CHILD’S GROWTH. INTERPRETING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT

Authors : Eleni Tympa, Athina Charissi, Vasiliki Karavida

Pages : 14-19

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Publication Date : 2020-10-25

Article Type : Other

Abstract :Human brain begins to develop from uterus to postnatal period, affected by a genetic program in which diet holds a distinguished role. Research evidence has shown that diet in early life has a significant long-term impact on health and development. Moreover, food deprivation during early life affects physiology and brain biochemistry and connects to possible brain disfunction. Breastfeeding is the natural way of feeding the infant and the young child, providing it with an ideal growth and health. Available research evidence proves positive impacts of breastfeeding to the intelligence index, showing higher rates for breast fed infants than formula fed infants . The main objective of this paper is to highlight the role of breastfeeding in child's brain development. The suggested psycho-cultural context of interpretation highlights a series of symbolic dimensions of breastfeeding along with socio-cultural implications that interact with meaning-making processes, consequent practices, relationships and social models.
Keywords : brain development, early years, breastfeeding, psycho-cultural perspective