title: [Breast feeding studies 1981-1983 in 1,500 mothers in Dortmund and Haltern. III. Rates of breast feeding and duration of breast feeding in the first half year].
abstract: With two collectives of mothers from the large maternity wards in Dortmund (n = 998) and Haltern (n = 500) breast-feeding patterns were studied prospectively after dismissal. 95 and 93% of initially breast-feeding mothers kept simple protocols of duration and intensity of breast-feeding. 20 and 13% respectively of the breast-feeding mothers in Dortmund and Haltern stopped breast-feeding within 3 days following discharge, only 2 and 6% respectively of all mothers fully breast-fed for a period of a months as recommended. Already from the beginning of the 2nd month some mothers introduced (unnecessarily) juices as Beikost. Reasons given by the mothers for termination of breast-feeding were mostly connected with problems concerning the mother (50%) and nursing problems (35%). Statistical analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) revealed that the mothers' age (less than 25 years), low educational level, bad breast-feeding experience and use of a pump significantly reduce duration of breast-feeding. Promotion and support of breast-feeding is urgently needed especially during the first weeks after birth and with inexperienced, young and less educated mothers.
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food
vernacular_title: Stillstudien 1981-1983 bei 1500 Müttern in Dortmund und Haltern. III. Stillraten und Stilldauer im 1. Lebenshalbjahr.