Factors associated with the initiation of breast-feeding by Aboriginal mothers in Perth.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the prevalence of breast-feeding at discharge and the determinants of breast-feeding initiation amongst Aboriginal women.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study using a self-administered baseline questionnaire and telephone-administered follow-up interviews.


METHODS
Six hospitals with maternity wards in Perth, Western Australia.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty-five Aboriginal mothers of newborn infants.


RESULTS
At discharge, 89.4% of Aboriginal mothers were breast-feeding. Breast-feeding at discharge was most positively associated with perceived paternal support of breast-feeding, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 6.65 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.81-15.74), and with maternal age (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22), but negatively associated with parity and having delivered vaginally.


CONCLUSIONS
The factors independently associated with breast-feeding at discharge were similar to those previously identified for a group of non-Aboriginal Perth women, suggesting that separate breast-feeding interventions specially targeted at Aboriginal women are not warranted. The findings do, however, highlight the importance of including the father in the breast-feeding discussions.
Binns
C
C
School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia, Australia. c.binns@curtin.edu.au
Gilchrist
D
D
Gracey
M
M
Zhang
M
M
Scott
J
J
Lee
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D010298:Parity; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia