Trends and Differentials in Breastfeeding Behaviour: Evidence from the WFS and DHS

Abstract

In this paper trends and correlates of breastfeeding behaviour are analysed with data from available surveys conducted in conjunction with the World Fertility Surveys (WFS) and the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Both these series of fertility surveys were designed and carried out in similar fashions, and in both, similar information on breastfeeding behaviour and its correlates was collected. Therefore, these data provide the best comparative information currently available. The first objective is to compare current-status information on breastfeeding with retrospective reports on durations of lactation. The extent to which distortions in retrospectively reported ages at weaning produce biases in summary measures (means and quartiles) of breastfeeding durations is examined, and the loss of precision incurred by the use of current-status data is explored. On the basis of these results, the relative merits of the two types of breastfeeding information are discussed. The second objective is to document breastfeeding differentials by education and urban/rural residence, in populations with surveys conducted as part of the WFS or the DHS. The third objective is to document trends in breastfeeding in populations with both WFS and DHS surveys. The results should prove useful in helping public-health officials to target campaigns to promote breastfeeding among those who would benefit most.