Prevalence of breast-feeding and its correlates in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
BACKGROUND
The health benefits of breast-feeding are widely acknowledged and breast-feeding is crucial for the survival of the infants in developing countries. The present study aims to elucidate the prevalence of breast-feeding and the possible risk factors affecting the breast-feeding of infants at the age of 3 months in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam after the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund launched "the Baby-Friendly Hospital" Initiative in 1989.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in February, 2000. Two hundred and sixty mother-infant pairs were conveniently recruited in three child health centers in Ho Chi Minh City. Mothers of infants aged 6-12 months were interviewed and completed a well-structured questionnaire regarding the feeding types of the infant, the maternal knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to breast-feeding.


RESULTS
The results indicated that although about 86.4% newborns in the maternity wards and 88.5% infants at 3 months were at least partially fed with breast milk, the prevalence of breast-feeding were 57.4 and 53.1%, respectively. About 47.5% newborns were fed with breast milk in the first feeding. The multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that the risk factors for the introduction of breast milk substitutes at 3 months of age were maternal antenatal plan of mixed or artificial feeding (odds ratio (OR) = 6.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.18-13.64, P < 0.001) and the supplement of breast milk substitutes in the maternity ward (OR = 4.30, 95% CI: 2.10-8.77, P < 0.001). Higher maternal education levels were beneficial to the continuation of breast-feeding. About 18.5% mothers had attended antenatal breast-feeding education. Most of the mothers (94.1%) and families (95.4%) indicated supportive attitudes to breast-feeding.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of breast-feeding was relatively low in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The antenatal education in breast-feeding needs to be improved and the implementation of the "Baby-Friendly Hospital" policy needs to be strengthened.
Li
Liubai
L
Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Thi Phuong Lan
Doan
D
Hoa
Nguyen-Thi
NT
Ushijima
Hiroshi
H
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D014744:Vietnam