The effect of plasma prolactin and milk lactose levels on the lactation performance of Ghanaian mothers and on the weight gain of their babies

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1989-06-26
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Abstract
The epidemiological Surveys done in Accra, Sunyani and Kumasi gave 21%, 27% and 28% respectively as the proportion of mothers affected by poor lactation performance or lactation problems. Graphical analysis and tests performed on the data of anthropometric measurements showed that babies from mothers without lactation problems generally weighed more than babies from mothers with lactation problems even though they were on supplements. This Suggests that mother’s milk could be a better promoter of infant growth than infant formulae. Prolactin was determined by immunoradiometric assay and lactose by the method of Asatoor and King. Analysis of the data on prolactin, lactose and infant weight in relation to lactation performance by the T test showed an association between lactation performance and plasma prolactin only in the 8 - 12 week period when the mother’s nutritional status had declined. It was observed from the survey that the peak of poor lactation performance occurred in the 8 - 12 week period. T tests on the relationship between lactation performance and the weight of babies during this period showed a close association in which case babies from mothers without poor lactation performance weighed more than the babies from mothers with lactation problems. Prom these observations it is possible that the first 8 - 12 weeks is a critical period of the babies’ life and in the lactation performances of the lactating mothers studied.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Biochemistry, 1989
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