Abstract
Aim: This study assessed the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding up to 24 months and the associated socioeconomic determinants in a birth cohort of children. Methods: Four hundred infants born in a hospital in the north east of Italy were enrolled at birth and followed up for 36 months. Data on infant feeding were gathered through a feeding diary compiled at fixed intervals. Data were also gathered on type of delivery and weight, length, and health status at birth, as well as on selected socioeconomic indicators of the mothers. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine any association that exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding may have with selected socioeconomic variables and with health conditions of the infants at birth. Results: Ninety-eight percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 69% of them exclusively. This rate, however, had declined to 6% by 6 months. There was a remarkable endurance of breastfeeding at 24 months (12%). The variables significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months and any form of breastfeeding at 12 months are mother's age (p=0.007 at 3 months, p=0.026 at 12 months) and postdischarge hospital admiss=on (p=0.029 at 3 months). Conclusions: In this population, breastfeeding rates are higher than previously reported, but lower than recommended, especially as far as exclusivity is concerned. Full implementation of the World Health Organization-UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiatives in hospitals and communities is needed to improve them further. Monitoring systems should include the collection of data on breastfeeding beyond 12 months of age.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 177-182 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Breastfeeding Medicine |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 1 2011 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Maternity and Midwifery
- Pediatrics
- Health Policy
Cite this
Breastfeeding to 24 months of age in the northeast of italy : A cohort study. / Carletti, Claudia; Pani, Paola; Knowles, Alessandra; Monasta, Lorenzo; Montico, Marcella; Cattaneo, Adriano.
In: Breastfeeding Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 4, 01.08.2011, p. 177-182.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Breastfeeding to 24 months of age in the northeast of italy
T2 - A cohort study
AU - Carletti, Claudia
AU - Pani, Paola
AU - Knowles, Alessandra
AU - Monasta, Lorenzo
AU - Montico, Marcella
AU - Cattaneo, Adriano
PY - 2011/8/1
Y1 - 2011/8/1
N2 - Aim: This study assessed the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding up to 24 months and the associated socioeconomic determinants in a birth cohort of children. Methods: Four hundred infants born in a hospital in the north east of Italy were enrolled at birth and followed up for 36 months. Data on infant feeding were gathered through a feeding diary compiled at fixed intervals. Data were also gathered on type of delivery and weight, length, and health status at birth, as well as on selected socioeconomic indicators of the mothers. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine any association that exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding may have with selected socioeconomic variables and with health conditions of the infants at birth. Results: Ninety-eight percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 69% of them exclusively. This rate, however, had declined to 6% by 6 months. There was a remarkable endurance of breastfeeding at 24 months (12%). The variables significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months and any form of breastfeeding at 12 months are mother's age (p=0.007 at 3 months, p=0.026 at 12 months) and postdischarge hospital admiss=on (p=0.029 at 3 months). Conclusions: In this population, breastfeeding rates are higher than previously reported, but lower than recommended, especially as far as exclusivity is concerned. Full implementation of the World Health Organization-UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiatives in hospitals and communities is needed to improve them further. Monitoring systems should include the collection of data on breastfeeding beyond 12 months of age.
AB - Aim: This study assessed the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding up to 24 months and the associated socioeconomic determinants in a birth cohort of children. Methods: Four hundred infants born in a hospital in the north east of Italy were enrolled at birth and followed up for 36 months. Data on infant feeding were gathered through a feeding diary compiled at fixed intervals. Data were also gathered on type of delivery and weight, length, and health status at birth, as well as on selected socioeconomic indicators of the mothers. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine any association that exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding may have with selected socioeconomic variables and with health conditions of the infants at birth. Results: Ninety-eight percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding, 69% of them exclusively. This rate, however, had declined to 6% by 6 months. There was a remarkable endurance of breastfeeding at 24 months (12%). The variables significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months and any form of breastfeeding at 12 months are mother's age (p=0.007 at 3 months, p=0.026 at 12 months) and postdischarge hospital admiss=on (p=0.029 at 3 months). Conclusions: In this population, breastfeeding rates are higher than previously reported, but lower than recommended, especially as far as exclusivity is concerned. Full implementation of the World Health Organization-UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiatives in hospitals and communities is needed to improve them further. Monitoring systems should include the collection of data on breastfeeding beyond 12 months of age.
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U2 - 10.1089/bfm.2011.0019
DO - 10.1089/bfm.2011.0019
M3 - Article
C2 - 21770733
AN - SCOPUS:79960666515
VL - 6
SP - 177
EP - 182
JO - Breastfeeding Medicine
JF - Breastfeeding Medicine
SN - 1556-8253
IS - 4
ER -