Risk Factors for Early Discontinuation of Breastfeeding in Iranian Mothers

Abstract

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors that reduce the rate of breastfeeding among Iranian women in the first six months after delivery. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 542 mothers with infants less than six months old who came to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran, for vaccination follow up, from 2012 to 2014. Trained examiners filled a predesigned questionnaire including information about breastfeeding and factors that may affect the mode of infant feeding. The results were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Out of 542 breastfeeding infants 53.2% were female; the average birth weight was 3217 ± 40 gr and 57.7% were first born. The age of mothers was from 17 to 43 years with the average of 27.7 ± 4.9. Among mothers 58.1% had a high school diploma or less education and 41.9% had higher education. The rate of cesarean section was 62.2%. The rate of breastfeeding showed a reducing trend from the first month after birth to the sixth month: 91.7% of mothers reported breastfeeding in the first month which was reduced to 70.1% in the sixth month. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression analysis showed the risk factors reducing the rate of breastfeeding as follow: use of pacifier (P < 0.000, OR = 3.695, CI 95% = 2.460-5.553), cesarean section delivery (p < 0.000, OR = 2.717, CI 95% = 1.690-4.369), lack of breastfeeding training (P = 0.004, OR = 2.347, CI 95% = 1.354-4.063), and mothers' higher education (P = 0.029, OR = 1.614, CI 95% = 1.014-2.569). Conclusion: Use of pacifiers, cesarean section, lack of breastfeeding training, and mothers' higher education were the risk factors for reduced breastfeeding among Iranian mothers.

Pacifier Sucking Habit and its Relation to Dental Caries and Type of Feeding Habits among Group of Children (Comparative Study)

“…The results revealed that breast feeding was predominant in non-pacifier sucking group (70%) than pacifier sucking group (8%), Table (3), this finding is in accordance with other studies (18,19) , children will less likely to have been exclusively breastfed if they use of pacifier early in infancy.…”