An analysis of personal and social factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding - a prospective cohort study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the degree to which certain personal and social maternal factors, measured in the immediate postpartum period and during the next six months, were associated with the length of the breastfeeding experience. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from three questionnaires administered to 159 mothers, who delivered their infants within a three-month birth cohort at Royal Women's Hospital Brisbane during 1997. Interviews took place prior to hospital discharge, at three months postpartum and at six months postpartum. The study found that, while 91.1% of new mothers had breastfed their infants at least once, only 49.6% were breastfeeding at all by the time their infants were six months of age. Longer breastfeeding duration was most significantly associated with increased breastfeeding self-confidence, lower levels of anxiety and depression, increased self-esteem and coping capacity, and stronger social health. These findings have relevance to the content and process of antenatal and postnatal education programs undertaken with pregnant and postpartum women in all health care settings