[Decision-making criteria for feeding of newborns: a survey of 308 women].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to understand the women's motivations and hindrances for choosing and keeping on with breast-feeding.


METHODS
The survey was conducted in a group of 308 women chosen at random at least three months after their delivery. Practitioners and midwives submitted to them a self-questionnaire.


RESULTS
The survey showed that breast-feeding was chosen only in 51% of the cases and that the average duration was of two months. Women who breast-fed were more than 35 years old, multiparous, having personal history of breast-feeding and having followed the courses of preparation for the delivery. The fear of mammary disease (22%) and the constraints of availability (50%) seem to influence the women towards an artificial feeding.


CONCLUSIONS
The reflation of breast feeding should have financial and social incentive measures. The frame of breast feeding women should be improved notably by a better training of health professionals.
Fanello
S
S
Département de santé publique, UFR médecine, 49045 Angers,  France. Sefanello@chu-angers.fr
Moreau-Gout
I
I
Cotinat
J P
JP
Descamps
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001941:Breast Diseases; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009042:Motivation; D010298:Parity