Breast-feeding in Iceland. Predictive factors and effects of interventive measures.
The aim of this study was to analyse how long babies born in Akureyri district in 1990 were breast-fed, compared with babies born in 1985. Possible predictive factors for the length of breast-feeding were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. From 1985 to 1990, the proportion of infants exclusively breast-fed at the age of 3 months increased from 57% to 70% (p < 0.01) and for those breast-fed exclusively or partially, from 67% to 83% (p < 0.01). By 1990, 64% of all babies were breast-fed at the age of 6 months, compared with 43% in 1985 (p < 0.01). The factor with the strongest correlation with a long breast-feeding period was a well educated father. Other factors correlated with the duration of breast-feeding were the mother's age, number of previous children, attending a maternity course, and being a non-smoker. It is concluded that real beneficial changes regarding the duration of breast-feeding in Iceland have been observed during the last decade, but the objectives of the preventive measures recommended by health authorities have not yet been reached.
Freysteinsson
H
H
Community Health Centre of Akureyri, Iceland.
Sigurdsson
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors