Lactancia materna como factor protector para Trastornos del Espectro Autista en pacientes pediátricos del Hospital Francisco Icaza Bustamante periodo 2018-2021.

Abstract

Due to the properties that breast milk provides in cognitive development, it has been shown in different investigations from different parts of the world that this could become a protective factor in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) because this is a condition that is characterized by deficits in social interaction and stereotyped behaviors. Methodology: A prevalence or cross-sectional, observational, descriptive and analytical study was carried out, where 115 pediatric patients diagnosed with Autism in childhood (F840) and Atypical Autism (F841) were evaluated at the Francisco Icaza Bustamante Hospital, the following variables were measured; socioeconomic level, number of people living in the house, perinatal complications, age at which autism was diagnosed, type of breastfeeding, length of time breastfeeding, complementary feeding, CARS Scale. Results: It was shown that patients who received exclusive breastfeeding are related to a lower degree of autism, where an important significance value was observed (p 0.004), it was also shown that the monthly economic income was related to a higher degree of autism. Conclusions: The association between breastfeeding and the appearance of a lower degree of autism was demonstrated in contrast to patients who received breastfeeding through formula or mixed milk. We must mention that sociodemographic antecedents such as a salary of less than 425 dollars are also associated with a higher degree of autism, so it was concluded that breastfeeding has been certified as one of the protective factor for ASD but not the only one.