Socio-demographic and health system factors in relation to exclusive breast-feeding in Tobago.
To determine the prevalence and significant correlates of exclusive breast-feeding among nursing mothers, we conducted a survey among nursing mothers attending the Wellness Baby Clinic in Tobago from July 1 to December 1, 1998. A random sample of 151 mothers had face-to-face interviews with a standardized pretested questionnaire. Our results suggest that 48.3% and 20.8% of infants were exclusively breast-fed at two and four months respectively. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed that exclusive breast-feeding at two months was significantly positively associated with years of schooling completed by the mother, frequency of prenatal visits, mode of breast-feeding, mother's knowledge of the recommended duration of breast-feeding, and occupation of the child's father. Exclusive breast-feeding at four months was significantly positively associated with mother's age, years of schooling completed by the mother, frequency of prenatal visits, mother's knowledge of the recommended duration of breast-feeding, years of schooling completed by the child's father and occupation of the child's father. In multivariate logistic analyses, adjusting simultaneously for all relevant explanatory variables, exclusive breast-feeding at two months was significantly positively associated with frequency of prenatal clinic visits, mode of breast-feeding, mother's knowledge of the recommended duration of breast-feeding and occupation of the child's father. In addition, exclusive breast-feeding at four months was significantly positively associated with frequency of prenatal clinic visits, length of hospital stay, mother's knowledge of recommended duration of breast-feeding, years of schooling completed by the child's father, family structure and inversely associated with mother's age. In this sample, parental socio-demographic characteristics and health system factors were associated with subsequent infant feeding practices.
Nichols
S
S
Department of Agricultural Economic and Extension, University of the West Indies, St Augustine. snichols@trinidad.net
Dillon-Remy
M
M
Thomas-Murray
T
T
Baker
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago