OBJECTIVE: This study investigated breastfeeding outcomes and factors associated with duration of breastfeeding in cohorts of healthy term and sick/preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: Follow-up was conducted of 87 sick/preterm and 92 term healthy infants during the 9 months following discharge from two Western Australian hospitals. RESULTS: When corrected for gestational age, breastfeeding duration did not differ between the entire cohort of sick/preterm and term healthy groups. Multivariable analysis showed that early cessation of breastfeeding was more likely for infants born at <33 weeks of gestation (hazard ratio [HR ]=2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.14-3.69), mothers who had previously breastfed for <6 months (HR=3.67, 95% CI=2.12-6.37), and for mothers who perceived breastfeeding to be important rather than very important (HR=2.58, 95% CI=1.59-4.20). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal perceptions of breastfeeding as "important" rather than "very important" and previous breastfeeding duration of <6 months are negatively associated with breastfeeding duration; these factors can be identified and addressed during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Preterm infants born at <33 weeks of gestation have a shorter breastfeeding duration than those born at a later gestation.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated breastfeeding outcomes and factors associated with duration of breastfeeding in cohorts of healthy term and sick/preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: Follow-up was conducted of 87 sick/preterm and 92 term healthy infants during the 9 months following discharge from two Western Australian hospitals. RESULTS: When corrected for gestational age, breastfeeding duration did not differ between the entire cohort of sick/preterm and term healthy groups. Multivariable analysis showed that early cessation of breastfeeding was more likely for infants born at <33 weeks of gestation (hazard ratio [HR ]=2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.14-3.69), mothers who had previously breastfed for <6 months (HR=3.67, 95% CI=2.12-6.37), and for mothers who perceived breastfeeding to be important rather than very important (HR=2.58, 95% CI=1.59-4.20). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal perceptions of breastfeeding as "important" rather than "very important" and previous breastfeeding duration of <6 months are negatively associated with breastfeeding duration; these factors can be identified and addressed during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Preterm infants born at <33 weeks of gestation have a shorter breastfeeding duration than those born at a later gestation.
Authors: Ilana Levene; Jennifer L Bell; Christina Cole; Kayleigh Stanbury; Frances O'Brien; Mary Fewtrell; Maria A Quigley Journal: Trials Date: 2022-07-29 Impact factor: 2.728