Predictors of breast-feeding in a developing country: results of a prospective cohort study

• Published in: Public health nutrition Vol. 11; no. 12; pp. 1350 - 1356
• Main Authors: Al-Sahab, Ban, Tamim, Hala, Mumtaz, Ghina, Khawaja, Marwan, Khogali, Mustafa, Afifi, Rima, Nassif, Yolla, Yunis, Khalid A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Babies; Birth weight; Bivariate analysis; Breast; Breast Feeding - epidemiology; Breast Feeding - psychology; Breast-feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Feeding; Feeding rates; Female; Females; gender differences; Gestational age; Hospitals; Humans; Infant; Infant Care - methods; infant nutrition; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Infant, Newborn; Infants; LDCs; Lebanon - epidemiology; Male; Medical personnel; men; Mother-offspring interactions; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Newborn babies; Nutrition; parity (reproduction); pediatricians; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - standards; Physician's Role; Physicians - psychology; Physician’s sex; prediction; Predictive Value of Tests; Predictors; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression Analysis; Regression models; religion; Sex; Sex Factors; Sociodemographics; Software packages; Suburban areas; Suburbs; Time Factors; Weaning; women; Lebanon; United States > US; Beirut Lebanon; Breast-feeding; Physician’s sex; Predictors
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980008003005

Data on the prevalence and predictors of breast-feeding remain scarce in Lebanon. Moreover, no study has previously addressed the effect of the paediatrician's sex on breast-feeding. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of breast-feeding at 1 and 4 months of infant age while exploring the potential role of the sex of the paediatrician. Prospective cohort study. Predictors of breast-feeding significant at the bivariate level were tested at 1 and 4 months through two stepwise regression models. Infants were enrolled through the clinics and dispensaries of 117 paediatricians located in Beirut, Lebanon, and its suburbs. A total of 1,320 healthy newborn infants born between August 2001 and February 2002 were prospectively followed during the first year. Breast-feeding rates at 1 and 4 months were 56.3 % and 24.7 %, respectively. Early discharge, high parity and religion were significantly associated with higher breast-feeding rates at 1 and 4 months of age. Maternal age proved significant only at 1 month, while maternal working status and sex of the paediatrician were significant at 4 months. A novel finding of our study was the positive effect of female paediatricians on breast-feeding continuation until 4 months of age (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI 1.03, 2.15). Breast-feeding rates are low at 1 and 4 months of infant age in Beirut. Further research to investigate the interactions between female physicians and lactating mothers in maintaining breast-feeding in other populations is warranted. The results constitute the basis for designing interventions targeting policy makers, health professionals and mothers.