Achille Cernigliaro1, Sara Palmeri2, Palmira Immordino2, Patrizia Miceli3, Raffaele Pomo4, Girolama Bosco5, Maria Concetta Cammarata6, Gaspare Canzoneri7, Nicolò Casuccio8, Mario Cuccia9, Erminio Di Pietro10, Filippo Giurdanella11, Arcangela Strazzanti12, Filippo Zagami13, Alessandra Casuccio2, Salvatore Scondotto3. 1. Dipartimento per le attività sanitarie e osservatorio epidemiologico, Regione Siciliana, Palermo; achille.cernigliaro@regione.sicilia.it. 2. Dipartimento di scienze per la promozione della salute materno-infantile "G. D'Alessandro", Università degli Studi di Palermo. 3. Dipartimento per le attività sanitarie e osservatorio epidemiologico, Regione Siciliana, Palermo. 4. Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla - Fatebenefratelli, Palermo. 5. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Agrigento. 6. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Caltanissetta. 7. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Trapani. 8. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Palermo. 9. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Catania. 10. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Siracusa. 11. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Ragusa. 12. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Enna. 13. Azienda sanitaria provinciale di Messina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: to describe the prevalence of breastfeeding in Sicily Region (Southern Italy) and to analyze the socioeconomic status and other major risk factors on the attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding. DESIGN: information on the practice of breastfeeding in Sicily have been collected from a Regional survey on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). An index of socioeconomic position was created by using data from the 2011 Census of the Italian National Institute of Statistics. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: in May 2015, a questionnaire was distributed to all mothers accessing to immunization services in Sicily for the first vaccination of their children. Two hundred seventy-three (273) vaccination centres have been involved, and 2,692 questionnaires were administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: five socio-economic levels were identified and, for each of them, the prevalence of breastfeeding and the risk factors for nonadherence to exclusive breastfeeding were described. RESULTS: the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 30.6%, unevenly distributed in the region, being the lowest in the Province of Messina (21.4%). Nonadherence to exclusive breastfeeding was associated with the disadvantage of the low context culture (χ2: 14.9), and was more common in the areas with higher socioeconomic deprivation index (odds ratio - OR: 1.81). Among other determinants investigated, being premature was a risk factor for not being breastfed (OR: 1.59). CONCLUSION: the study confirms a low prevalence of breastfeeding in Sicily and its association with the socioeconomic level, being lower among women living in higher disadvantage areas. Moreover, this study confirms the association with co-sleeping practices (rooming-in and bed-sharing) for preterm babies. However, mother-child bed-sharing is not a guarantee for a successful breastfeeding, indeed being associated with a higher risk of SIDS. Finally, the study suggests the need for appropriate interventions focusing on specific high-risk groups.
OBJECTIVES: to describe the prevalence of breastfeeding in Sicily Region (Southern Italy) and to analyze the socioeconomic status and other major risk factors on the attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding. DESIGN: information on the practice of breastfeeding in Sicily have been collected from a Regional survey on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). An index of socioeconomic position was created by using data from the 2011 Census of the Italian National Institute of Statistics. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: in May 2015, a questionnaire was distributed to all mothers accessing to immunization services in Sicily for the first vaccination of their children. Two hundred seventy-three (273) vaccination centres have been involved, and 2,692 questionnaires were administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: five socio-economic levels were identified and, for each of them, the prevalence of breastfeeding and the risk factors for nonadherence to exclusive breastfeeding were described. RESULTS: the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 30.6%, unevenly distributed in the region, being the lowest in the Province of Messina (21.4%). Nonadherence to exclusive breastfeeding was associated with the disadvantage of the low context culture (χ2: 14.9), and was more common in the areas with higher socioeconomic deprivation index (odds ratio - OR: 1.81). Among other determinants investigated, being premature was a risk factor for not being breastfed (OR: 1.59). CONCLUSION: the study confirms a low prevalence of breastfeeding in Sicily and its association with the socioeconomic level, being lower among women living in higher disadvantage areas. Moreover, this study confirms the association with co-sleeping practices (rooming-in and bed-sharing) for preterm babies. However, mother-child bed-sharing is not a guarantee for a successful breastfeeding, indeed being associated with a higher risk of SIDS. Finally, the study suggests the need for appropriate interventions focusing on specific high-risk groups.
Authors: Achille Cernigliaro; Sara Palmeri; Alessandra Casuccio; Salvatore Scondotto; Vincenzo Restivo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-09-20 Impact factor: 3.390