[Influence of a Migration Background on the Implementation of Breastfeeding and Premature Weaning]

Current studies on breastfeeding behavior that adequately consider migration aspects are not available from Germany. The following research questions should be answered with the help of a prospective study: What factors influence the probability of (premature) weaning and actual breastfeeding duration? What roles do migration background (MB) and generation play? Do observed effects persist after controlling for education, parity, etc.?

In a one-year study in 3 Berlin maternity hospitals, women were interviewed on socio-demografic details and migration aspects on admission to the delivery room. On the 2^nd / 3^rd day postpartum, another standardized interview was conducted that included questions on the beginning of breastfeeding and planned breastfeeding period. Six months postpartum, a sub-cohort was interviewed by telephone or other means about the actual breastfeeding period. Nursing behavior was analyzed using multivariate regression models. A Cox regression was used to analyze actual breastfeeding duration and possible influencing factors.

The pre-partum group included 7,100 women (57.9% with a migrant background), 6,884 women were interviewed on the maternity ward, and 605 women were in the sub-cohort questioned six months postpartum. 55.9% of first-generation migrant women, 32.9% of 2^nd / 3^rd-generation migrant women, and 52.9% of women with no MB were still breastfeeding 6 months postpartum (p<0.001). In the adjusted regression model, women with a migrant background were more likely to start breastfeeding than women with no MB. Cox's regression analysis examined the likelihood of breastfeeding within 6 months: The adjusted model showed no effect of migration status.

The migration background factor has only a small influence on breastfeeding behavior. Possible differences should take the migration generation into account.