Introduction Breastfeeding supports infant health and reduces healthcare utilisation. However, breastfeeding rates in Ireland remain lower than recommended by the World Health Organisation. Formula feeding has been associated with increased risks of common childhood illnesses such as respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections and otitis media. Understanding the health outcomes related to breastfeeding and formula feeding in the Irish context is essential to inform cost analyses, policy development and investment in breastfeeding support. Objective To understand the extent and nature of evidence on infant and child health outcomes related to infant feeding practices in Ireland, in order to inform recommendations for a national cost analysis. We are building on previous international reviews, specifically Renfrew et al. (2012) and Onah et al. (2025). Onah et al. (2025)’s investigation on the costs of suboptimal breastfeeding in Ontario, Canada was structured around three key evidence reviews. The second review/review B identified Canadian studies examining infant feeding and health outcomes (Onah et al. , 2025). This protocol outlines how we will undertake review B for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Methods CINAHL (EBSCO) and PubMed will be searched. Controlled, experimental or epidemiological (analytic or observational) studies that analyse the relationship between breastfeeding and/or formula feeding and infant and child health outcomes and include participants from Ireland (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) will be included. A grey literature search will be undertaken on Google Scholar and Lenus. Case reports, case series and papers not reporting a study will be excluded. The reference lists of the included studies will be searched. No restrictions will be used. Titles and abstracts and full-text articles will be screened by two independent reviewers. All authors will agree on the included studies. Data will be extracted and presented graphically using figures and tables. Narrative summary text will accompany the tables and figures.
Hanley et al. (Fri,) studied this question.