Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Objective: To investigate the factors affecting the duration of continuous breastfeeding of infants within 2 years of age, and to explore intervention strategies that may promote breastfeeding duration in China. Method: A self-made electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the breastfeeding d...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/6/1353 |
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| author | Ziming Yang Yingfang Ding Shuyao Song Yaoyun Zhang Aolin Li Mintao Su Yajun Xu |
| author_facet | Ziming Yang Yingfang Ding Shuyao Song Yaoyun Zhang Aolin Li Mintao Su Yajun Xu |
| author_sort | Ziming Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: To investigate the factors affecting the duration of continuous breastfeeding of infants within 2 years of age, and to explore intervention strategies that may promote breastfeeding duration in China. Method: A self-made electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the breastfeeding duration of infants, and the influencing factors were collected from three levels of individual, family, and social support. The Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test and the multivariable ordinal logistic regression model were used for data analysis. Subgroup analysis was carried out according to region and parity. Results: A total of 1001 valid samples from 26 provinces across the country were obtained. Among them, 9.9% breastfed for less than 6 months, 38.6% for 6 to 12 months, 31.8% for 12 to 18 months, 6.7% for 18 to 24 months, and 13.1% for more than 24 months. Barriers to sustained breastfeeding included the mother’s age at birth being over 31, education level below junior high, cesarean delivery, and the baby’s first nipple sucking at 2 to 24 h after birth. Factors that promote continued breastfeeding included freelancer or full-time mother, high breastfeeding knowledge score, supporting breastfeeding, baby with low birth weight, first bottle feeding at 4 months and later, first supplementary food at over 6 months old, high family income, the mother’s family and friends supporting breastfeeding, breastfeeding support conditions after returning to work, etc. Conclusion: The breastfeeding duration in China is generally short, and the proportion of mothers breastfeeding until the age of 2 years and above, recommended by WHO, is very low. Multiple factors at the individual, family, and social support levels influence the duration of breastfeeding. It is suggested to improve the current situation by strengthening health education, improving system security, and enhancing social support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:04:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54180660e16b4181adcc49440837c499 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:04:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-54180660e16b4181adcc49440837c4992023-11-17T13:04:36ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-03-01156135310.3390/nu15061353Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional StudyZiming Yang0Yingfang Ding1Shuyao Song2Yaoyun Zhang3Aolin Li4Mintao Su5Yajun Xu6School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaObjective: To investigate the factors affecting the duration of continuous breastfeeding of infants within 2 years of age, and to explore intervention strategies that may promote breastfeeding duration in China. Method: A self-made electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the breastfeeding duration of infants, and the influencing factors were collected from three levels of individual, family, and social support. The Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test and the multivariable ordinal logistic regression model were used for data analysis. Subgroup analysis was carried out according to region and parity. Results: A total of 1001 valid samples from 26 provinces across the country were obtained. Among them, 9.9% breastfed for less than 6 months, 38.6% for 6 to 12 months, 31.8% for 12 to 18 months, 6.7% for 18 to 24 months, and 13.1% for more than 24 months. Barriers to sustained breastfeeding included the mother’s age at birth being over 31, education level below junior high, cesarean delivery, and the baby’s first nipple sucking at 2 to 24 h after birth. Factors that promote continued breastfeeding included freelancer or full-time mother, high breastfeeding knowledge score, supporting breastfeeding, baby with low birth weight, first bottle feeding at 4 months and later, first supplementary food at over 6 months old, high family income, the mother’s family and friends supporting breastfeeding, breastfeeding support conditions after returning to work, etc. Conclusion: The breastfeeding duration in China is generally short, and the proportion of mothers breastfeeding until the age of 2 years and above, recommended by WHO, is very low. Multiple factors at the individual, family, and social support levels influence the duration of breastfeeding. It is suggested to improve the current situation by strengthening health education, improving system security, and enhancing social support.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/6/1353continuous breastfeedingbreastfeeding durationChinarisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Ziming Yang Yingfang Ding Shuyao Song Yaoyun Zhang Aolin Li Mintao Su Yajun Xu Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study Nutrients continuous breastfeeding breastfeeding duration China risk factors |
| title | Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Factors Affecting the Breastfeeding Duration of Infants and Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | factors affecting the breastfeeding duration of infants and young children in china a cross sectional study |
| topic | continuous breastfeeding breastfeeding duration China risk factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/6/1353 |
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