Postpartum feeding attitudes, maternal depression, and breastfeeding in Barbados.
Maternal feeding attitudes, maternal moods and infant feeding practices during the first 6 months postpartum were assessed in 226 healthy, well-nourished Barbadian mother-infant dyads. Factor analysis of the feeding attitudes questionnaire resulted in six independent factors. The belief that breastfeeding was better than bottle-feeding was associated with higher family income, more information seeking behavior and older maternal age at the time of her first pregnancy. Women who believed that breastfeeding was better at 7 weeks postpartum were also more likely to breastfeed at concurrent and later ages, up to 6 months postpartum. This belief was also associated with less maternal depression at 7 weeks and 6 months. The association between feeding attitudes and actual feeding practices was significant even after correcting for maternal moods and other background variables. Conversely, after controlling for feeding attitudes, maternal mood at 7 weeks was still significantly associated with infant feeding practices at 6 months. Thus, feeding attitudes and maternal moods were closely linked, but each contributed independently and uniquely to different aspects of breastfeeding, especially at 6 months. These findings suggest that early intervention addressing maternal feeding attitudes, may improve the extent of breastfeeding and the health of children in this setting.
Galler
Janina R
JR
Center for Behavioral Development and Mental Retardation, M923, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. jgaller@bu.edu
Harrison
Robert H
RH
Ramsey
Frank
F
Chawla
Sonia
S
Taylor
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001460:Barbados; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003863:Depression; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology*