BACKGROUND: There is wide variation in the duration of breastfeeding across Europe which may in part be due to the between-country differences in mothers' and societal attitudes towards breastfeeding in public. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the maternal attitudes to, and practice of, breastfeeding in public in four European centers and investigate the association with duration of breastfeeding. METHODS: Participants (n = 389) were mothers recruited from maternity wards of hospitals in Glasgow (Scotland), Stockholm (Sweden), Granada (Spain), and Reggio-Emilia (Italy). RESULTS: Among those who had breastfed, Scottish (adjOR 0.25 [95% CI 0.12-0.50]) and Italian mothers (adjOR 0.30 [95% CI 0.14-0.63]) were significantly less likely than Swedish mothers to have ever breastfed in public. Mothers who had a negative attitude toward breastfeeding in public were less likely to have ever breastfed in public (adjOR 0.05 [95% CI 0.02-0.17]), and those who had never breastfed in public were in turn more likely to discontinue breastfeeding earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social norms may exert a stronger influence on breastfeeding outcomes than a woman's breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge. Differences between European countries in the duration of breastfeeding may be explained in part by differences in societal attitudes to breastfeeding in public.
BACKGROUND: There is wide variation in the duration of breastfeeding across Europe which may in part be due to the between-country differences in mothers' and societal attitudes towards breastfeeding in public. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the maternal attitudes to, and practice of, breastfeeding in public in four European centers and investigate the association with duration of breastfeeding. METHODS:Participants (n = 389) were mothers recruited from maternity wards of hospitals in Glasgow (Scotland), Stockholm (Sweden), Granada (Spain), and Reggio-Emilia (Italy). RESULTS: Among those who had breastfed, Scottish (adjOR 0.25 [95% CI 0.12-0.50]) and Italian mothers (adjOR 0.30 [95% CI 0.14-0.63]) were significantly less likely than Swedish mothers to have ever breastfed in public. Mothers who had a negative attitude toward breastfeeding in public were less likely to have ever breastfed in public (adjOR 0.05 [95% CI 0.02-0.17]), and those who had never breastfed in public were in turn more likely to discontinue breastfeeding earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social norms may exert a stronger influence on breastfeeding outcomes than a woman's breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge. Differences between European countries in the duration of breastfeeding may be explained in part by differences in societal attitudes to breastfeeding in public.
Authors: Jonathan Y Bernard; Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman; Emmanuel Cohen; Sandrine Lioret; Blandine de Lauzon-Guillain; Marie-Aline Charles; Michael S Kramer; Emily Oken Journal: Birth Date: 2019-12-28 Impact factor: 3.689
Authors: Felix A Ogbo; John Eastwood; Andrew Page; Amit Arora; Anne McKenzie; Bin Jalaludin; Elaine Tennant; Erin Miller; Jane Kohlhoff; Justine Noble; Karina Chaves; Jennifer M Jones; John Smoleniec; Paul Chay; Bronwyn Smith; Ju-Lee Oei; Kate Short; Laura Collie; Lynn Kemp; Shanti Raman; Sue Woolfenden; Trish Clark; Victoria Blight; Valsamma Eapen Journal: Int Breastfeed J Date: 2017-04-08 Impact factor: 3.461
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