ABSTRACT
Objective:
The present study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors that reduce the
rate of breastfeeding among Iranian women in the first six months after
delivery. Materials
and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 542 mothers with
infants less than six months old who came to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran,
for vaccination follow up, from 2012 to 2014. Trained examiners filled a
predesigned questionnaire including information about breastfeeding and factors
that may affect the mode of infant feeding. The results were analyzed using
SPSS software. Results:
Out of 542 breastfeeding infants 53.2% were female; the average birth weight
was 3217 ± 40 gr and
57.7% were first born. The age of mothers was from 17 to 43 years with the
average of 27.7 ± 4.9. Among mothers 58.1% had a high school diploma
or less education and 41.9% had higher education. The rate of cesarean section
was 62.2%. The rate
of breastfeeding showed a reducing trend from the first month after birth to
the sixth month: 91.7% of mothers reported breastfeeding in the first month
which was reduced to 70.1% in the sixth month. Multivariate analysis using
logistic regression analysis showed the risk factors reducing the rate of
breastfeeding as follow: use of pacifier (P < 0.000, OR = 3.695, CI95% = 2.460 - 5.553), cesarean section delivery (p < 0.000, OR = 2.717, CI95% = 1.690 - 4.369), lack of breastfeeding training (P = 0.004, OR = 2.347, CI95% = 1.354 - 4.063),
and mothers’ higher education (P = 0.029, OR = 1.614, CI95% = 1.014 - 2.569). Conclusion: Use of pacifiers, cesarean section, lack
of breastfeeding training, and mothers’ higher education were the risk factors
for reduced breastfeeding among Iranian mothers.