Abstract
BackgroundBreastfeeding is considered the ideal method of infant feeding for at least the first six months of life. This study aimed to compare breastfeeding intention between Syrian and Jordanian women and determine factors associated with breastfeeding intention among pregnant women in these two countries.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used to collect data from1200 pregnant women aged 18 years and above (600 participants from each country). A self- administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and breastfeeding intention.ResultsIntention to breastfeed was reported by 77.2% of Syrian and 76.2% of Jordanian pregnant women. There was no significant difference in intention to breastfeed between Syrian women and Jordanian women. In both countries, women with a more positive attitude to breastfeeding, women with previous breastfeeding experience and women with supportive partners were more likely to intend to breastfeed. Syrian women with a monthly family income of more than US$200, younger than 25 and primiparous or having one child were more likely to report an intention to breastfeed their infants. Jordanian women with an education level of less than high school and not living with their family-in-law were more likely to intend to breastfeed.ConclusionsIn Syria and Jordan, a more positive attitude to breastfeeding, previous breastfeeding experience and presence of supportive husbands are associated with intention to breastfeed. These factors should be considered when planning programs designed to promote breastfeeding in these two countries.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is considered the ideal method of infant feeding for at least the first six months of life
Breastfeeding intention is a significant predictor of infant feeding method; Tarrant et al recently reported that breastfeeding intention is a significant predictor of breastfeeding initiation and any breastfeeding at six weeks among Irish women [4]
There was no significant difference in the odds of breastfeeding intention between Syrian women and Jordanian women in the univariate analysis (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.38; pvalue = 0.68) and in the multivariate analysis (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.62, 1.34; p-value = 0.64) after adjusting for relevant factors including: maternal age, level of education, income, previous breastfeeding experience, number of live births, and attitude to breastfeeding
Summary
Breastfeeding is considered the ideal method of infant feeding for at least the first six months of life. This study aimed to compare breastfeeding intention between Syrian and Jordanian women and determine factors associated with breastfeeding intention among pregnant women in these two countries. We examined the intention to breastfeed among pregnant women in Jordan and Syria. These two neighboring Arab countries are similar in language and religion and share many socio-demographic characteristics. This study aimed to compare breastfeeding intention between Syrian and Jordanian women and determine factors associated with intention to breastfeed among pregnant women in these two countries
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