title: A breast-feeding assessment score to evaluate the risk for cessation of breast-feeding by 7 to 10 days of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a succinct and comprehensive breast-feeding assessment score (BAS) to accurately identify infants at risk for early cessation of breast-feeding before initial hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers who intended to breast-feed their infants were solicited from 9 suburban hospitals. Two detailed data forms covering 107 items were completed before hospital discharge. A third form was completed at 7 to 10 days of age after telephone contact with the mother.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cessation of breast-feeding occurred in 113 of 1075 infants (10.5%). A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed 8 variables that were significant (P <.05) in predicting breast feeding cessation. A BAS was developed based on the odds ratios and relative risks of breast-feeding cessation for these 8 variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BAS was easily and quickly performed before hospital discharge for near term and term infants, which accurately predicted the risk of breast-feeding cessation within 7 to 10 days of age in the population studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Teasley
authors.forename: Deanna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Bridget M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Hipsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment