Infant feeding: factors affecting initiation, exclusivity and duration

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both infants and mothers.
• Understanding factors influencing breastfeeding initiation and duration is essential for public health strategies.
• Previous research indicates a complex interplay of maternal, social, and economic factors affecting breastfeeding practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity in the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) region.
• To identify key determinants influencing the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among mothers.
• To inform targeted interventions for improving breastfeeding support and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from eligible mothers.
• Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted at six and fourteen weeks postnatal for breastfeeding mothers.
• Statistical analysis, including regression modeling, was employed to identify significant influencing factors.

Main Results:

• Over half (51.4%) of mothers initiated breastfeeding, declining to 21.1% by 14 weeks postnatal.
• Factors significantly associated with initiation included prior breastfeeding experience, higher education, early decision-making, non-smoking status, maternal breastfeeding history, higher social class, and older maternal age.
• Regression analysis confirmed that prior breastfeeding experience, completed third-level education, and early decision-making were the most significant predictors of initiation.

Conclusions:

• Infant feeding decisions are often made early in pregnancy, highlighting the need for societal-level interventions to promote breastfeeding.
• Health sector initiatives alone have limited impact; broader societal engagement is required.
• Targeted and creative strategies are necessary to encourage breastfeeding among women from lower socio-economic backgrounds.