Breast-feeding practices in Mexico: results from the Second National Nutrition Survey 1999.
OBJECTIVE
To assess breast-feeding (BF) practices and determinants of exclusive BF (EBF) < 4 and < 6 months (mo) among women and infants < 23 mo in the NNS-1999.


METHODS
BF practices from the day and night before the interview were ascertained, and median duration estimated. Determinants of EBF < 4 and < 6 mo were analysed by logistic regression models for complex surveys.


RESULTS
Prevalence of EBF < 4 mo was 25.7%, and of < 6 mo 20.3%. The overall rate of continued BF (second year) was 30.9%, median duration of BF 9 mo, and the national proportion of children ever breast-fed 92.3%. The probability (p) of EBF < 4 mo was determined by infant age and sex, by maternal socio-economic level (SEL) and ethnicity, and by the interaction between infant sex and SEL. The pEBF < 6 mo was determined by infant age and length, by maternal ethnicity, and employment.


CONCLUSIONS
EBF rates and duration are low in Mexico and have improved only slightly in the last 20 y. Infant and maternal characteristics determine the pEBF. If improvements in infant health are a national priority, aggressive interventions to promote and protect BF are urgently needed in Mexico, as well as formal evaluation of current initiatives. The English version of this paper is available too at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.
González-Cossío
Teresa
T
Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Centro de Investigaciones en Nutrición y Salud, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. tgonzale@insp.mx
Moreno-Macías
Hortensia
H
Rivera
Juan A
JA
Villalpando
Salvador
S
Shamah-Levy
Teresa
T
Monterrubio
Eric A
EA
Hernández-Garduño
Adolfo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys