Breast feeding initiation and duration: comparison of French and German mothers
Vera Walburg1, Maja Goehlich, Marlene Conquet
1Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie, Université de Toulouse II-le Mirail, 5, allées Antonio Machado-31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France. vwalburg@yahoo.fr
Background:
approximately 56% of babies in France are breast fed at birth compared with approximately 91% in Germany. Few studies have compared these neighbouring countries despite the similarities in their social systems.
Objectives:
to compare breast-feeding initiation and duration from birth to 3 months post partum between French and German mothers, as well as reasons for breast-feeding cessation in the first 3 months.
Design:
mothers were contacted twice during the study: immediately after childbirth and at 3 months post partum.
Participants:
126 French mothers were recruited during their maternity stay in hospital, and 80 German women were recruited by their midwives and contacted via regular mail. All women were primiparous.
Methods:
breast-feeding rates at birth and 3 months post partum were collected and compared. In addition, reasons for breast-feeding cessation in the first 3 months were explored and analysed.
Results:
96% of German women initiated breast feeding at birth and 83% were still breast feeding at 3 months post partum. In comparison, 67% of French women initiated breast feeding at birth and 34% were still breast feeding at 3 months post partum.
Conclusion:
there is a need for postnatal follow-up care for French mothers who breast feed. Follow-up care available for German mothers shows encouraging results.
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