How to achieve long-term breast-feeding: factors associated with early discontinuation

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the factors associated with discontinuation of breastfeeding before 12 months in order to make suggestions for achieving long-term breast-feeding. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. Subjects: Mothers of 1230 children who discontinued breast-feeding at least 15 d before the last visit were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the discontinuation process. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the independent effects of factors that might influence breast-feeding discontinuation. Results: Mean breast-feeding duration of the study group was 11?04 (SD 7?45) months. Introduction of bottle-feeding correlated with discontinuation of breast-feeding (r 5 0?507, P 5 0?001). Important risk factors for discontinuation of breast-feeding before the first 12 months were not exclusively breast-feeding at 3 and 6 months, prematurity, not having a plan about breast-feeding duration and maternity leave duration of #91 d for working mothers. The common reasons for abandoning breastfeeding in the first and second 6 months were similar, namely the mother's concerns about the sufficiency of breast milk. After 12 months and 18 months the reasons for discontinuation were the baby's unwillingness to eat solid foods while breast-feeding and the mother's perception that 'the baby is old enough', respectively. Conclusion: The factors that improve long-term breast-feeding are successful exclusive breast-feeding in the first few months, intention of the mother to breastfeed and sufficient duration of maternity leave. This study emphasizes the importance of successful breast-feeding counselling during the first few months to achieve the desired long-term breast-feeding.

The relationship between perceived milk supply and exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months postpartum: a cross-sectional study

“…We found that perception of milk supply was an important factor associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesian mothers. This finding is consistent with previous studies in Turkey [27] and Mexico [9], which reported that the perception of insufficient milk was prevalent in postpartum mothers who did not practice exclusive breastfeeding. In Indonesian culture, mothers tend to believe that small breasts produce smaller amounts of breast milk and older mothers' breast milk is of lower quality [28], which in turn, impact mothers' perceptions of milk insufficiency.…”

Evaluation of Breastfeeding in a Baby-friendly City, Çorum, Turkey

“…Likely to our study, Matich et al reported that educating mothers about breastfeeding together with social support decreased the usage of bottle-feeding (30). In another study from Turkey, it was revealed that introduction of bottle-feeding correlated with the discontinuation of breastfeeding (31). Lowering bottle-feeding decreases the risk of infections and extends the duration of breastfeeding, including exclusive breastfeeding.…”

Prevalence of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding at 48 h after birth and up to the sixth month in Cyprus: the BrEaST start in life project

“…Several studies report that primiparous mothers may be more likely to initiate BF ( 36 , 43 ) . However, they are more likely to discontinue BF ( 34 ) , probably due to lower self-efficacy for BF and lack of support ( 24 ) . It is not uncommon for studies to also show that BF initiation ( 37 ) and premature BF discontinuation ( 39 ) are more common among multiparous mothers, or report no differences by parity ( 34 , 44 ) .…”