title: Factors associated with the duration of exclusive breast-feeding in asthmatic families.
abstract: This study was part of a randomized controlled trial in which verbal and written advice about exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months was provided to Dutch women expecting a child with a high risk of developing asthmatic traits. Eighty-nine women completed a theory-based self-report questionnaire between the third and sixth months of pregnancy, which served as the baseline measurement. The aim of this study was to examine the factors that influence the duration of exclusive breast-feeding. Cox multiple regression analysis showed a positive significant association between the duration of exclusive breast-feeding and the mother's breast-feeding knowledge (P < 0.01), her intended hours of work per week after maternity leave (P < 0.01) and her age (P <or= 0.05). Short-term, that is <5 weeks, or no previous breast-feeding experience of multiparous women appeared to be negatively associated with the duration of breast-feeding (P < 0.001). Furthermore, women who received the educational programme were more likely to succeed in breast-feeding exclusively for 6 months than the control group (48% versus 27%, P < 0.05). This study suggests that extra educational support is beneficial, and especially necessary for multiparous women with an earlier short-term, <5 weeks, or no breast-feeding experience, since they are at risk of discontinuing exclusive breast-feeding before completing the advisable 6-month period.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gijsbers
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mesters
authors.forename: J André
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knottnerus
authors.forename: Constant P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van Schayck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma; D001290:Attitude; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D033182:Intention; D009426:Netherlands; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors