Breast-feeding in Athens, Greece: factors associated with its initiation and duration.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, examine the influence of hospital practices and investigate potential determinants of breast-feeding in Athens.


METHODS
Three hundred twelve mothers provided information regarding feeding practices at certain maternity hospitals in Athens, at 40 days and 6 months postpartum. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the initiation and maintenance of breast-feeding and potential risk factors.


RESULTS
Although almost 90% of newborn infants were given a breast milk substitute one or more times during the first 2 days at the maternity hospital, the exclusive breast-feeding percentage on the last day of hospital stay reached 85%. Breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding percentages dropped to 55% and 35%, respectively, at 40 days postpartum and to 16% and 12%, respectively, at 6 months postpartum. While in the hospital, 3% of mothers initiated breast-feeding within 1 hour of labor, only 34% were informed about the advantages of breast-feeding by health professionals and 42% were trained to breast-feed by the midwives. "Rooming-in" was not practiced in the private hospitals. The educational level was positively associated with the initiation of breast-feeding [odds ratio (OR): 1.36, confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.81], the mother's body mass index was negatively associated with the maintenance of breast-feeding for 40 days (OR: 0.56, CI: 0.32-0.98) and 6 months (OR: 0.28, CI: 0.06-1.26) and a caesarean section was negatively associated with the initiation (OR: 0.24, CI: 0.11-0.49) and maintenance of breast-feeding (OR: 0.42, CI: 0.20-0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
Breast-feeding is not appropriately supported in certain maternity hospitals in Athens, and this is probably the cause of observed low breast-feeding prevalence.
Theofilogiannakou
Melina
M
Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Skouroliakou
Maria
M
Gounaris
Antonis
A
Panagiotakos
Demosthenis
D
Markantonis
Sophia L
SL
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors