Gender role attitudes and other determinants of breast feeding intentions in Brazilian women

Abstract

This study of 230 Brazilian mothers examined the associations of several sociodemographic variables, maternal attitudes and perceptions with intended breast feeding duration. The usual relationships of sociodemographic variables such as mother's age, education, smoking, parity and infant birth weight with intended breast feeding duration were not found. However, mother's intentions were related to gender role attitudes with both the least and the most traditional women intending to breast feed longer than women with moderately traditional gender role attitudes. Mother's attitude toward breast feeding, help with household tasks, and the attitudes of friends and relatives toward breast feeding were also very significantly related to intended breast feeding duration. Women who did not work outside the home intended to breast feed significantly longer than those who were employed.

Infant Feeding Practices in Kaski District, Pokhara

“…By 6 months, 77% had started complementary feeding according to Subba Regarding mother's age and occupation, there wasn't much relating to the practice of complementary feeding and initiation of breastfeeding after life just as Paine et al stated in their article of feeding practice in Brazil. 12 Mother's education however showed that the more the education, the better chances of complementary feeding being started at 6 months and breastfeeding initiated within the fi rst hour.…”

Maternal distress and intended breastfeeding duration

“…Kearney [38] mentioned that mothers who planned to work outside home after giving birth anticipated and experienced shorter duration of breastfeeding than those who planned to remain at home. A study involving 230 Brazilian mothers in Brasilia city found that women who did not work outside home intended to breastfeed significantly longer than those who were employed [39]. Pastore and Nelson [40] evaluated a Breastfeeding Drop-In-Center's provision of ''hands-on'' professional breastfeeding help and support in a community setting and found out that return to work/school was the main factor in weaning.…”

Early Infant Morbidity in the City of São Paulo, Brazil

“…To the extent that paternal education would help us, we missed an indicator that could have allowed a better understanding of such relationship. These data are important since studies in Brazil have shown that support from spouse is an important predictor of breastfeeding intentions (for example, [54]). Higher paternal education may well be associated with such an attitude and may serve as a significant predictor of infants' health.…”