What influences women to bottle-feed from birth and to discontinue breastfeeding early?

Abstract

Background Internationally, breast milk is recognised as the best form of infant feeding, yet in the UK, bottle feeding rates are among the highest in the world. Aims The aim of this research study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic, demographic, family-related, pregnancy and birth factors, and bottle feeding in the UK. Methods A secondary analysis of the Infant Feeding Survey 2010 was conducted and two time points differentiated: bottle feeding from birth and early breastfeeding cessation. Findings Results demonstrated that bottle feeding from birth was predicted by a range of independent social disadvantage factors, namely being young, single, unemployed, white British and poorly educated. Other influencing factors were the increased number of children, having a caesarean section, no underlying health problems post birth and having friends who bottle-fed. Early breastfeeding cessation was predicted by the same independent determinants except for working in intermediate or routine/manual occupations, having friends that mix-fed, and developing health problems post birth. Conclusions The context in which mothers live is a key determinant of how they feed their babies and that, for many women, feeding method is a consequence of their social context and not a choice.