Unintended pregnancies are associated with less likelihood of prolonged breast-feeding: an analysis of 18 Demographic and Health Surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between unintended pregnancies and prolonged breast-feeding among 18 countries on an individual and aggregated level.


METHODS
Regional multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine this association based on 18 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1995 and 2000.


METHODS
Women who had a live child between 13 and 36 months old were included in these analyses (n=41 353).


RESULTS
Regression models were adjusted for 10 covariates including child age, maternal age, pregnancy status of mother at the time of interview and parity. In 11 out of the 18 countries the odds ratio (OR) of the association between unintended pregnancies and prolonged breast-feeding was <1.0, reaching statistical significance in three countries. Pooled analyses of all 18 countries detected a significant association between unintended pregnancies and less likelihood of prolonged breast-feeding (OR=0.90, 95% confidence interval=0.85-0.96).


CONCLUSIONS
Prospective studies are needed to further understand if and how pregnancy intentions influence breast-feeding outcomes in different settings.
Hromi-Fiedler
Amber J
AJ
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-4017, USA. amber.hromi@uconn.edu
Pérez-Escamilla
Rafael
R