Abstract
BackgroundThe World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond. This study assessed breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices among women residing on the island of Abu Dhabi and identified associated factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire among mothers visiting primary healthcare clinics in Abu Dhabi between November 2014 and 2015. Participants were women aged at least 18 years who had at least one child aged 2 years or younger at the time of the study. Breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices were assessed on the basis of experience with last child. Selected questions were used to develop a scaled scoring system to categorize these aspects as good, fair, or poor. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the act of feeding infants only breast milk since birth, without providing water, formula, or other liquid supplements.ResultsThe participants were 344 women. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was reported by only 46 (16.9%, 95% CI 0.10, 0.17, n = 272). 79 (28.7%, n = 275) of the participants were breastfeeding and planning to continue after the child was ≥24 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the following factors were associated with exclusive breastfeeding: mothers with female children (adjusted OR [AOR] 2.42; 95% CI 1.18, 4.97) and better breastfeeding knowledge scores (AOR 1.25; 95% CI 1.04, 1.50). The following factors were associated with less likelihood of exclusively breastfeeding: working mothers (AOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12, 0.72), living with relatives (AOR 0.21; 95% CI 0.05, 0.81), no past exclusive breastfeeding experience (AOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.09, 0.58) and being offered readymade liquid formula in hospital (AOR 0.33; 95% CI 0.15, 0.72). The most common reason for stopping breastfeeding was insufficient breast milk production (68/89, 76%), and the most common work related reason was inadequate maternity leave (24/89, 15%).ConclusionAlthough breastfeeding knowledge was generally good, breastfeeding practice was still suboptimal. Modifiable factors found to predict exclusive breastfeeding included breastfeeding knowledge and mothers’ employment status.
Highlights
The World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond
Using data from 66 countries, a review of the differences in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants younger than 6 months between 1995 and 2010 revealed that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants of this age group in developing countries increased from 33% in 1995 to merely 39% in 2010 [5]
A new law extending fully paid maternity leave from 2 months to 3 months was recently established and passed in the U.A.E., which is a step in the right direction [10]
Summary
The World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the act of feeding the infant only breast milk, with no supplemental liquids or solids except for liquid medicine or vitamin/mineral supplements [2]. During the first 6 months of life, breast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants, providing all the necessary nutrients, including vitamins and minerals [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond [4] and it has been estimated that optimal breastfeeding of children younger than 2 years, could annually save the lives of over 800,000 children under 5 years of age [4]. Despite considerable improvements in some regions, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding remains far too low in many areas of the developing world [5]
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