Sreenivas P Veeranki1, Holly Nishimura2, Karl Krupp3, Savitha Gowda4, Anjali Arun4, Purnima Madhivanan5. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. 2. School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. 3. Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL; Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore, India. 4. Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore, India. 5. Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL; Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore, India. Electronic address: pmadhiva@fiu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding rates are progressively increasing worldwide while optimal breastfeeding practices are lagging behind, especially in rural and low resource settings like India. OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the prevalence of and factors associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices among mother-infant dyads in rural southern India. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in Mysore District from 2008-2011 from 1294 mother-infant dyads. All women answered an interviewer-administered survey, which included maternal, infant, and sociodemographic information and breastfeeding-related characteristics. Logistic regressions were conducted to determine factors associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practice. FINDINGS: About 20% (n = 281) of mothers reported delayed initiation of breastfeeding. Mothers who were unsatisfied with the infant's gender had higher odds of delayed breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 2.00). Odds of delayed initiation were significantly lower among mothers who received 7-10 antenatal checkups (AOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.87) and assistance during breastfeeding (AOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.95). About half (51.4%) the sample did not breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. Older age was associated with lower odds of nonexclusive breastfeeding (AOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.00). Compared with mothers with no education, mothers with primary education (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.35, 2.79) or more than primary education (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.26) had higher odds of nonexclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal breastfeeding practices were influenced by a multitude of factors, including maternal age, education, number of antenatal checkups, receiving assistance with breastfeeding, and satisfaction with the infant's gender. Health promotion efforts should focus on encouraging mothers to attend antenatal care visits. Early antenatal education and counseling should include breastfeeding education in early antenatal visits. Further research should examine how to mitigate the effect of gender preference on initiation of breastfeeding.
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding rates are progressively increasing worldwide while optimal breastfeeding practices are lagging behind, especially in rural and low resource settings like India. OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the prevalence of and factors associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices among mother-infant dyads in rural southern India. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in Mysore District from 2008-2011 from 1294 mother-infant dyads. All women answered an interviewer-administered survey, which included maternal, infant, and sociodemographic information and breastfeeding-related characteristics. Logistic regressions were conducted to determine factors associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practice. FINDINGS: About 20% (n = 281) of mothers reported delayed initiation of breastfeeding. Mothers who were unsatisfied with the infant's gender had higher odds of delayed breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 2.00). Odds of delayed initiation were significantly lower among mothers who received 7-10 antenatal checkups (AOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.87) and assistance during breastfeeding (AOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.95). About half (51.4%) the sample did not breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. Older age was associated with lower odds of nonexclusive breastfeeding (AOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.00). Compared with mothers with no education, mothers with primary education (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.35, 2.79) or more than primary education (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.26) had higher odds of nonexclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal breastfeeding practices were influenced by a multitude of factors, including maternal age, education, number of antenatal checkups, receiving assistance with breastfeeding, and satisfaction with the infant's gender. Health promotion efforts should focus on encouraging mothers to attend antenatal care visits. Early antenatal education and counseling should include breastfeeding education in early antenatal visits. Further research should examine how to mitigate the effect of gender preference on initiation of breastfeeding.
Authors: Dilaram Acharya; Jitendra Kumar Singh; Rajendra Kandel; Ji-Hyuk Park; Seok-Ju Yoo; Kwan Lee Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-05-28 Impact factor: 3.390