Abstract
BackgroundNo large scale studies on breastfeeding onset patterns have been carried out in Spain. This work aims to explore the prevalence and the risk factors for not initiating breastfeeding in hospitals from Catalonia (CAT) and Valencia (V), two regions accounting approximately for 30% of the annual births in Spain.MethodsThe prevalence of not initiating breastfeeding was calculated by maternal/neonatal characteristics and type of hospital, and logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted risks of not breastfeeding in each region.ResultsPrevalence of breastfeeding initiation was 81.7% and 82.5% in Catalonia and Valencia, respectively. We identified conspicuous regional differences in the adjusted-risk of not breastfeeding, especially for multiple [CAT = 3.12 (95% CI: 2.93, 3.31), V = 2.44 (95% CI: 2.23, 2.67)] and preterm and low birth weight deliveries [very preterm and very low birth weight: CAT = 7.61 (95% CI: 6.50, 8.92), V = 4.03 (95% CI: 3.13, 5.19); moderate preterm and moderate low birth weight: CAT = 4.28 (95% CI: 4.01, 4.57), V = 2.55 (95% CI:2.34, 2.79)].ConclusionsOur results suggest the existence of regional variations in breastfeeding initiation in Spain. Taking into account the known short and long-term benefits of breastfeeding it is recommended that further research should explore these differences in order to prevent potential inequities in neonatal, child and adult health.
Highlights
No large scale studies on breastfeeding onset patterns have been carried out in Spain
A cross-sectional study was carried out using data of births in 2005 and 2006 provided by the regional registries of metabolic disorders from Catalonia and Valencia (Figure 1), two Spanish regions accounting approximately for 30% of the total annual births in the country
Inter-regional comparisons showed a higher frequency of multiple deliveries and Caesarean sections in Catalonia than in Valencia, as well as a higher proportion of deliveries from immigrant women and deliveries in private hospitals
Summary
No large scale studies on breastfeeding onset patterns have been carried out in Spain. This work aims to explore the prevalence and the risk factors for not initiating breastfeeding in hospitals from Catalonia (CAT) and Valencia (V), two regions accounting approximately for 30% of the annual births in Spain. In 2006, the latest National Survey of Health showed that the estimated prevalence of breastfeeding in children from 6 months to 4 years was 68.4% at 6 weeks after birth and 52.48% and 24.72% at 3 and 6 months, respectively [1]. No large scale studies on the patterns and determinants of breastfeeding onset in hospital have been carried out in the country. We investigate the prevalence and the risk factors for not initiating breastfeeding in two Spanish regions
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