[Factors associated with discontinuance of breastfeeding]

To determine possible factors that may influence the decision to stop breastfeeding.

We carried out a prospective study of 545 women who had given birth in the public hospitals of Gran Canaria. The study encompassed a 6-month postnatal lactation period. The chi-squared test was used to test the hypothesis of an association between variables. Odd-ratios were calculated for factors significantly associated with breastfeeding and were adjusted for the remaining factors using the logit method.

Mothers were more likely to continue breastfeeding if they had made the decision to breastfeed before giving birth, had received information from health personnel during pregnancy, if they were older, if they were university graduates, if a short time had elapsed between giving birth and starting breast-feeding, if they had not given the baby a bottle in the first days after birth and if the birth had been normal without complications. The decision to stop breastfeeding was usually taken by the mother herself and was related to lactation problems (shortage of milk, the baby's hunger) and to personal difficulties.

Once breastfeeding has begun, prenatal care factors as well as hospital practices strongly influence its continuation. Bottle feeding in the hospital is negatively associated with breastfeeding at 15 days and at 3 and 6 months. Socioeconomic and cultural factors as well as age are also determining factors. Personal reasons for discontinuing breast-feeding, such as the demands of work, become more frequent over time.