Abstract
Although the benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognized, only 14% of mothers in Thailand exclusively breastfed their children during the first six months of their lives in 2019, which dropped from 23% in 2016. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) up to six months, current breastfeeding patterns, and key determinants that influence six-month EBF among mothers residing in Bangkok, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire survey. In total, 676 healthy mothers living in Bangkok, whose most recent child was between 6 and 18 months old, were recruited. Descriptive statistics, univariable analysis by Chi-square test, and multivariable logistic regression were performed to assess the association between six-month EBF and maternal characteristics and experiences of using maternal health services. The prevalence of six-month EBF of infants in Bangkok was 41%. The key determinants that influenced six-month EBF included: maternal age of more than 30 years; higher education level; higher maternal income; multi-parity; exposure to breastfeeding advice during pregnancy; intention to breastfeed for a long duration (≥6 months) during pregnancy; experience of six-month EBF in the previous child. This study draws health professionals’ and policy makers’ attention to further promote breastfeeding in particular types of mothers.
Highlights
The benefits of breastfeeding for both children and mothers are well-known [1].Breastmilk protects infants from infectious diseases, especially diarrhoea and pneumonia and provides supreme nutrients for infants’ growth and development.Breastfed infants face lower risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and are likely to enjoy better promotion of cognitive development in the long-term [1]
73.2% had an experience of 6-month exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the previous child
Factors associated with 6-month EBF outcomes are: maternal age, education level, income level, parity, intention to breastfeed for a longer period (≥6 months), experience of 6-month EBF in the previous child, and exposure to breastfeeding advice during pregnancy
Summary
The benefits of breastfeeding for both children and mothers are well-known [1].Breastmilk protects infants from infectious diseases, especially diarrhoea and pneumonia and provides supreme nutrients for infants’ growth and development.Breastfed infants face lower risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and are likely to enjoy better promotion of cognitive development in the long-term [1]. The benefits of breastfeeding for both children and mothers are well-known [1]. Lactating mothers who continue breastfeeding over a longer duration (more than 12 months) are less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancers [2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) suggest that all infants should be initially breastfed within one hour after delivery, exclusively breastfed to six months, and breastfed for two years or beyond with appropriate complementary feeding [4]. This recommendation is linked to the global target
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