Breastfeeding in Thailand: Data from the 1981 Contraceptive Prevalence Survey

Abstract

Studies in the decade from 1969 to 1979 have indicated a moderate and relatively steady decline in the duration of breastfeeding among both rural and urban women of all classes in Thailand. Nonetheless breastfeeding is almost universal among rural women and practiced by most urban women. Important additional information on Thai breastfeeding practices became available from the 2nd round of the Contraceptive Prevalence Survey (CPS2) conducted on a national sample of 7038 ever-married women throughout Thailand in 1981. Data from the CPS2 does not show conclusively whether there has been a decline in breastfeeding since 1979, although some of the evidence points to a decline among urban women. What emerges is support for the data of the preceding decade, with additional confirmation of substantial rural urban, educational, and regional differences in overall breastfeeding patterns. New information is gained on the behavior of Thai mothers with respect to full breastfeeding, supplemental feeding and postpartum amenorrhea. Full breastfeeding is discontinued fairly early, within the 1st few months after birth. No sharp differentials in this practice are obvious among the population of women. Because of the early switch to mixed feeding, the period of postpartum amenorrhea is not long. The baby's diet is supplemented mainly with rice mixed with fruit and eggs, or some other ingredient. It is not known if milk products are introduced into the diet, or to what extent supplemental foods constitute the diet of the infant.