Wei Wei Pang1, Izzuddin M Aris2, Doris Fok1, Shu-E Soh2, Mei Chien Chua3, Sok Bee Lim4, Seang-Mei Saw5, Kenneth Kwek6, Peter D Gluckman2,7, Keith M Godfrey8,9, Rob M van Dam5,10, Michael S Kramer1,11, Yap-Seng Chong1,2. 1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Health System (NUHS), Singapore. 2. Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore. 3. Department of Neonatology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Singapore. 4. Department of Child Development, KKH, Singapore. 5. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Tahir Foundation Building, NUS, Singapore. 6. Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KKH, Singapore. 7. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 8. Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, Southampton, England. 9. NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, England. 10. Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, NUHS, Singapore. 11. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many countries in Asia report low breastfeeding rates and the risk factors for early weaning are not well studied. We assessed the prevalence, duration, and mode of breastfeeding (direct or expressed) among mothers of three Asian ethnic groups. METHODS: Participants were 1,030 Singaporean women recruited during early pregnancy. Data collected included early breastfeeding experiences, breastfeeding duration, and mode of breastfeeding. Full breastfeeding was defined as the intake of breast milk, with or without water. Cox regression models were used to identify factors associated with discontinuation of any and full breastfeeding. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association of ethnicity with mode of breastfeeding. RESULTS: At 6 months postpartum, the prevalence of any breastfeeding was 46 percent for Chinese mothers, 22 percent for Malay mothers, and 41 percent for Indian mothers; prevalence of full breastfeeding was 11, 2, and 5 percent, respectively. More Chinese mothers fed their infants expressed breast milk, instead of directly breastfeeding them, compared with the other two ethnic groups. Duration of any and full breastfeeding were positively associated with breastfeeding a few hours after birth, higher maternal age and education, and negatively associated with irregular breastfeeding frequency and being shown how to breastfeed. Adjusting for maternal education, breastfeeding duration was similar in the three ethnic groups, but ethnicity remained a significant predictor of mode of breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: The low rates and duration of breastfeeding in this population may be improved with breastfeeding education and support, especially in mothers with lower education. Further work is needed to understand the cultural differences in mode of feeding and its implications for maternal and infant health.
BACKGROUND: Many countries in Asia report low breastfeeding rates and the risk factors for early weaning are not well studied. We assessed the prevalence, duration, and mode of breastfeeding (direct or expressed) among mothers of three Asian ethnic groups. METHODS: Participants were 1,030 Singaporean women recruited during early pregnancy. Data collected included early breastfeeding experiences, breastfeeding duration, and mode of breastfeeding. Full breastfeeding was defined as the intake of breast milk, with or without water. Cox regression models were used to identify factors associated with discontinuation of any and full breastfeeding. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association of ethnicity with mode of breastfeeding. RESULTS: At 6 months postpartum, the prevalence of any breastfeeding was 46 percent for Chinese mothers, 22 percent for Malay mothers, and 41 percent for Indian mothers; prevalence of full breastfeeding was 11, 2, and 5 percent, respectively. More Chinese mothers fed their infants expressed breast milk, instead of directly breastfeeding them, compared with the other two ethnic groups. Duration of any and full breastfeeding were positively associated with breastfeeding a few hours after birth, higher maternal age and education, and negatively associated with irregular breastfeeding frequency and being shown how to breastfeed. Adjusting for maternal education, breastfeeding duration was similar in the three ethnic groups, but ethnicity remained a significant predictor of mode of breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: The low rates and duration of breastfeeding in this population may be improved with breastfeeding education and support, especially in mothers with lower education. Further work is needed to understand the cultural differences in mode of feeding and its implications for maternal and infant health.
Authors: I M Aris; J Y Bernard; L-W Chen; M T Tint; W W Pang; S E Soh; S-M Saw; L P-C Shek; K M Godfrey; P D Gluckman; Y-S Chong; F Yap; M S Kramer; Y S Lee Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2017-07-28 Impact factor: 5.095
Authors: Doris Fok; Izzuddin Mohd Aris; Jiahui Ho; Yiong-Huak Chan; Mary Rauff; James KC Lui; Mark D Cregan; Peter Hartmann; Yap Seng Chong; Citra NZ Mattar Journal: Singapore Med J Date: 2018-06-07 Impact factor: 1.858
Authors: Wei Wei Pang; Keri McCrickerd; Phaik Ling Quah; Anna Fogel; Izzuddin M Aris; Wen Lun Yuan; Doris Fok; Mei Chien Chua; Sok Bee Lim; Lynette P Shek; Shiao-Yng Chan; Kok Hian Tan; Fabian Yap; Keith M Godfrey; Michael J Meaney; Mary E Wlodek; Johan G Eriksson; Michael S Kramer; Ciarán G Forde; Mary Ff Chong; Yap-Seng Chong Journal: Appetite Date: 2020-03-07 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Wei Wei Pang; Donna T Geddes; Ching-Tat Lai; Shiao-Yng Chan; Yiong Huak Chan; Clara Y Cheong; Doris Fok; Mei Chien Chua; Sok Bee Lim; Jonathan Huang; Shikha Pundir; Kok Hian Tan; Fabian Yap; Keith M Godfrey; Peter D Gluckman; Lynette P Shek; Mark H Vickers; Johan G Eriksson; Yap-Seng Chong; Mary E Wlodek Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2021-09-01 Impact factor: 7.045