Breast-feeding initiation and exclusive duration at 6 months by social class--results from the Millennium Cohort Study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess breast-feeding initiation and rates of exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months after birth, and to examine social class differences in breast-feeding rates.


METHODS
First sweep of a longitudinal population-based survey, the Millennium Cohort Study.


METHODS
Four countries of the UK.


METHODS
Subjects were 18 125 singletons born over a 12-month period spanning 2000-01. Data were collected by parental interview on the initiation of breast-feeding and exclusivity at 1, 4 and 6 months after birth.


RESULTS
Overall breast-feeding was initiated for 71% of babies, and by 1, 4 and 6 months of age the proportions being exclusively breast-fed were 34%, 3% and 0.3%, respectively. There were clear social class differences and mothers with routine jobs with the least favourable working conditions were more than four times less likely (odds ratio (OR) 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.29) to initiate breast-feeding compared with women in higher managerial and professional occupations. Women in routine jobs were less likely to exclusively breast-feed their infants at 1 month (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.36-0.50) and 4 months (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.31-0.77) compared with women in higher managerial and professional occupations.


CONCLUSIONS
Clear social class differences in breast-feeding initiation and exclusivity for the first 4 months were apparent in this large UK sample. By 6 months, less than 1% of babies were being exclusively breast-fed. A co-ordinated multi-faceted strategy is required to promote breast-feeding, particularly among lower-income women.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Y J
YJ
Kelly
R G
RG
Watt
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom