Abstract
BackgroundMany studies of the impact of breastfeeding on child or maternal health have relied on data reported retrospectively. The goal of this study was to assess recall accuracy among breastfeeding mothers of retrospectively collected data on age of weaning, reasons for cessation, breast pain, lactation mastitis, and pumping.MethodsWomen in Michigan and Nebraska, U.S.A. were interviewed by telephone every 3 weeks during the first 3 months after the birth of their child, and mailed a questionnaire at 6 months. A subset was interviewed again by telephone approximately 1–3.5 years after the birth. The results for the three recall periods, collected 1994–1998, were compared using correlation, linear and Cox regression analysis, and sensitivity and specificity estimates.ResultsThe 184 participants were aged 18–42, mostly white (95%) and 63% had an older child. The age of weaning tended to be overestimated in interviews 1–3.5 years after birth compared to those within 3 weeks of the event, by approximately one month for 1–3.5 year recall and two weeks for 6-month recall (p < 0.001 in both cases). Recall accuracy of reasons for weaning varied greatly by reason, with mastitis and return to work having the most recall validity. The sensitivity of 1–3.5 year recall of mastitis was 80%, but was only 54% for nipple cracks or sores.ConclusionBreastfeeding duration among short-term breastfeeders tended to be somewhat overestimated when measured at 1–3.5 years post-partum. Reporting of other breastfeeding characteristics had variable reliability. Studies employing retrospective breastfeeding data should consider the possibility of such errors.
Highlights
Many studies of the impact of breastfeeding on child or maternal health have relied on data reported retrospectively
Most analyses presented here compare the initial reports to the 1–3.5 year recall, based on the 184 women interviewed 1–3.5 years after the birth, http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/1/1/4 but the results for time to weaning are presented for both with 1–3.5 year recall, showing an average overestimation the 6-month and 1–3.5 year recall periods (Table 1). of approximately one month for 1–3.5 year recall
Of the184 women interviewed during the 1–3.5 year recall period, 83 were from Omaha and 101 were from Detroit
Summary
Many studies of the impact of breastfeeding on child or maternal health have relied on data reported retrospectively. The 1981 National Health Interview Survey, conducted by the U.S National Center for Health Statistics, included a Child Health Supplement that asked about childhood diseases for a randomly selected child in the household under 18 years of age, as well as about breastfeeding and supplementation practices and weaning age[3]. For this sample, the recall period for breastfeeding questions was up to 18 years. It is of interest to investigate the effect of recall bias on reported breastfeeding practices
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