From: Time to initiation of breastfeeding and neonatal mortality and morbidity: a systematic review
Ranking | Quantified BF – outcome relationship | Accounting for Reverse Causality | Adjustment for potential confounders | Study Design |
---|---|---|---|---|
HIGH | Required. Must cover/quantify the outcome relationship during the neonatal period | Required. Must remove from analysis babies that might have not been breastfed early as a result of their status/illness | Required. Must adjust for gestational age and/or low birth weight. Adjustment for other confounders desirable | Prospective cohort, RCT |
MEDIUM | Required. Must cover/quantify the outcome relationship during the neonatal period | No | Required. Must adjust for gestational age and/or low birth weight. Adjustment for other confounders desirable | Prospective cohort, RCT |
LOW | Required. Must cover/quantify the outcome relationship during the neonatal period | No | No | Case control, retrospective |