Status of exclusive breastfeeding and influencing factors for 1,882 pairs of mother and neonate during 0- 7 days postpartum in China / 中华预防医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the status of exclusive breastfeeding(EBF) and possible influencing factors during 0-7 days postpartum in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>During 2011 to 2013, healthy mothers and neonates who were in the period of 0- 7 days postpartum from 8 provinces across different regions of China were recruited to take the questionnaire investigations and physical examinations. Information about socio-economic, pregnant, and delivery status, infant healthy situation and feeding indicators was collected to calculate the rate of exclusive breastfeeding during 0- 7 days postpartum and analyze the influencing factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1 882 pairs of mothers and neonates were covered by this study. The rate of EBF was 13.3% (250 cases) during 0- 7 days postpartum. Bottle feeding (OR=0.08, 95% CI 0.05- 0.12), the mothers themselves mixed fed at their 0-4 months old (OR=0.22, 95%CI 0.08-0.58), the mothers who had used methods to stimulate milk secretion (OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.35- 0.94) might decrease the EBF rate. Compared with the mothers who believed that their breast milk was not enough for their infants, the mothers who believed breastmilk was enough may increase the EBF rate (OR=6.04, 95%CI 3.34-10.94). Comparing to the EBF rate of Beijing, Yunnan (OR=0.10, 95%CI 0.04-0.24), and Gansu(OR=0.03,95%CI 0.01-0.08) had lower EBF rate during 0-7 days postpartum. What's more, the EBF rate increased with the increasing neonates' age (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.16- 1.53).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The EBF rate during 0- 7 days postpartum is still low in China and had significant differences in different regions. Suboptimal feeding knowledge and practices affected the EBF rate significantly.</p>