title: Breastfeeding prevalence among six-week-old infants at University Hospital of the West Indies.
abstract: Eight-five (85) mothers attending postnatal and well baby clinics were interviewed at six weeks post-partum regarding breastfeeding. An overall prevalence of 98.8% at six weeks of age was seen, with an exclusive breastfeeding rate of 37.6%. Older maternal age and multiparity favoured exclusive breastfeeding. There was no significant association between pattern of breastfeeding (exclusive versus partial) and employment or union status. Breastfeeding was found to favour good weight gain in normal birthweight babies. Normal birthweight babies who were exclusively breastfed had a higher mean weight gain than the exclusively breastfed low birthweight infants, who in turn had better weight gain when partially breastfed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Jamaica.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scarlett
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cargill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lyn-Sue
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCaw-Binns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010298:Parity; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D014900:West Indies