An analysis of personal and social factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding - a prospective cohort study

Papinczak, Tracey A. and Turner Catherine T. (2000) An analysis of personal and social factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding - a prospective cohort study. Breastfeeding Review, 8 1: 25-33.

Author Papinczak, Tracey A.
Turner Catherine T.
Title An analysis of personal and social factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding - a prospective cohort study
Journal name Breastfeeding Review   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2000-03
Sub-type Article
Volume number 8
Issue number 1
ISSN 0729-2759
Start page 25
End page 33
Total pages 9
Place of publication Glen Iris, VIC, Australia
Publisher Australian Breastfeeding Association
Language eng
Abstract This study aimed to determine the degree to which certain personal and social maternal factors, measured in the immediate postpartum period and during the next six months, were associated with the length of the breastfeeding experience. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from three questionnaires administered to 159 mothers, who delivered their infants within a three-month birth cohort at Royal Women's Hospital Brisbane during 1997. Interviews took place prior to hospital discharge, at three months postpartum and at six months postpartum. The study found that, while 91.1% of new mothers had breastfed their infants at least once, only 49.6% were breastfeeding at all by the time their infants were six months of age. Longer breastfeeding duration was most significantly associated with increased breastfeeding self-confidence, lower levels of anxiety and depression, increased self-esteem and coping capacity, and stronger social health. These findings have relevance to the content and process of antenatal and postnatal education programs undertaken with pregnant and postpartum women in all health care settings.
Keyword Breastfeeding
Social support
Social health
Self-confidence
Depression
Q-Index Code C1

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: School of Nursing and Midwifery Publications
 
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Created: Fri, 11 Mar 2011, 16:23:27 EST by Professor Catherine Turner on behalf of School of Nursing and Midwifery