Influencia de los estilos de vida de la madre en el inicio de la lactancia materna: estudio de casos y controles

Abstract

IntroductionBreast milk is the optimal food during the first months of life. The main objective was to analyse the factors associated with not initiating breastfeeding in terms of maternal lifestyles, epidemiological characteristics and information on breastfeeding. Material and methodObservational analytical study of cases and controls in 6 primary care centres. The sample included women with a child under 5 years, with an estimated necessary sample size of 166 cases (women who did not initiate breastfeeding) and 166 controls (women who began breastfeeding). Sociodemographic and maternal lifestyle variables were measured before and during pregnancy, such as physical activity using the BPAAT questionnaire, diet with the MEDAS-14 questionnaire, and tobacco and alcohol consumption. We assessed the information and opinions about breastfeeding as well as previous experience with it. ResultsThe study included 348 women (174 cases and 174 controls) with a mean age of 33.4 years (SD 5.4). The variables independently associated with not initiating breastfeeding were: absence of previous experience with breastfeeding (OR 12.75), making the decision during pregnancy or delivery (OR 10.55), not being married or in a partnership (OR 3.42) and being sedentary for periods of 2h or greater/day during pregnancy (OR 1.77). ConclusionsIn our study, the determining factors associated with not initiating breastfeeding were the lack of previous experience with breastfeeding, the timing of the decision about breastfeeding, and marital status. When it came to lifestyle, only a sedentary lifestyle was associated with not initiating breastfeeding, while dietary or other habits had no influence.