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Rapid epidemiologic assessment of breastfeeding practices: probit analysis of current status data
M U Ferreira1, M A Cardoso, A L Santos
1Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Probit analysis effectively estimates breastfeeding indicators from current status data. Exclusive breastfeeding duration was short in Brazil, highlighting early introduction of supplementary foods.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Breastfeeding practices are crucial for infant health.
- Estimating breastfeeding indicators accurately is vital for public health interventions.
- Current status data offers a snapshot of infant feeding practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate probit analysis for estimating breastfeeding indicators using current status epidemiological data.
- To assess breastfeeding duration, including exclusive and partial breastfeeding, in a Brazilian population.
- To identify key features of infant feeding practices, such as early introduction of supplementary foods.
Main Methods:
- A health center-based sample of 2411 children aged 0-1 year in Santo Andre, Brazil.
- Mothers were interviewed about current infant feeding practices during routine pediatric consultations.
- Probit regression analysis was performed using a public-domain microcomputer program.
Main Results:
- The median duration of total breastfeeding was estimated at 108.8 days.
- The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly shorter at 28.9 days.
- Only 14% of infants were exclusively breastfed by 120 days of age, indicating early introduction of supplementary foods.
Conclusions:
- Probit analysis is a viable method for rapid epidemiologic assessment of breastfeeding practices.
- The study identified a concerningly short duration of exclusive breastfeeding in the studied population.
- Findings underscore the need for continued efforts to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding.
Abstract:
We describe the use of probit analysis to estimate breastfeeding indicators from current status epidemiological data. A health centre-based sample of 2411 children aged 0-1 year was investigated in Santo Andre, a large town in the Metropolitan Area of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Mothers were interviewed during routine pediatric consultations and asked about their current infant feeding practices. Probit regressions were calculated by a public-domain microcomputer programme written by one of us. The median duration of total (i.e. exclusive plus partial) breastfeeding in this children's sample, estimated as 108.8 days (95 per cent confidence interval: 95.5-123.2 days), is close to that recently reported in the city of Sao Paulo and nearby towns. However, the median duration of exclusive breastfeeding (28.9 days, 95 per cent CI: 17.9-38.3 days) is rather short when compared to recent estimates from this same region. Despite the nationwide efforts for promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, only 14 per cent (95 per cent CI: 12.3-17 per cent) of the infants were still being exclusively breastfed by 120 days of age. Therefore, a key feature of breastfeeding practices in this population sample, namely, the early introduction of supplementary foods, was identified by using simplified methods of data collection and analysis. This communication suggests that probit analysis of current status data may be further explored as a method for rapid epidemiologic assessment of breastfeeding practices.