Maternal Years of Schooling but Not Academic Skills Is Independently Associated With Infant-Feeding Practices in a Cohort of Rural Guatemalan Women

Abstract

The effects of maternal academic skills on infant-feeding practices are not clear. From 1996 to 1999, the authors collected information on infant-feeding practices from birth on infants born to 279 mothers from 4 rural villages in Guatemala. They examined associations between maternal academic skills and indicators for the initiation of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and timely introduction of complementary foods (CF). Mothers in the highest category of academic skills had greater odds of initiating EBF, but this association failed to remain significant after adjusting for schooling. Compared with mothers with < 1 year of school, mothers with > 3 to ≤ 6 years had greater odds of initiating EBF; mothers with > 6 years of school had greater odds of introducing CF early, while mothers with ≥ 1 to ≤ 3 years had greater odds of introducing CF late. Unmeasured schooling-related factors influenced infant-feeding practices to a greater extent than academic skills.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Breastfeeding Among Working Mothers in South Jordan

“…Although it is expected that mothers with higher education may fill positions with more work responsibilities, in this study, a higher percentage of mothers with higher education practiced exclusive breastfeeding which may be explained by more accurate knowledge and understanding of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding than mothers with less education. These results were consistent with previous reports that mothers in the highest categories of academic skills were more likely to initiate exclusive breastfeeding (Webb, Sellen, Ramakrishnan, & Martorell, 2009).…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of breastfeeding and weaning among mothers of children up to 2 years old in a rural area in el-minia governorate, Egypt

“…(2009) who examined the associations between maternal academic skills and indicators for the initiation of exclusive breastfeeding and timely introduction of complementary foods; mothers in highest category of academic skills had greater odds of initiating exclusive breastfeeding. [ 26 ]…”

Changing Societal and Lifestyle Factors and Breastfeeding Patterns Over Time

“…24,25 More educated mothers may also be more likely to seek medical advice and use available health services with regard to breastfeeding. 26 This theory may be supported by differences observed in SPATZ in relation to rates of noninitiation and early cessation associated with elective cesarean delivery, which have also been observed in other studies.…”