Continuation of breastfeeding: is this a problem in Southeast Iran?
BACKGROUND
Despite widespread knowledge about breastfeeding benefits for mothers and neonates, duration of breastfeeding is decreasing in most countries. Many factors have an effect on continuation of breastfeeding. This study was designed to evaluate duration of breastfeeding and its associated factors in rural and urban children.


METHODS
In a historical cohort study, health files of 1,264 Iranian children under 3 years old were selected by the multistage sampling method in the Zabol district, located in southeast Iran. Two lists of rural and urban health centers based on their distance were prepared, and by systematic sampling technique three centers were selected in each list. Tables, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and median and mean O SD values were used for data description; log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazard model were applied for data analysis.


RESULTS
The mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 5.6 +/- 1.3 months, and the mean duration of any breastfeeding was 20.8 +/- 4.69 months. All children had started breastfeeding at birth. Breastfeeding continuation at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months was 98%, 92%, 76%, and 0.97%, respectively. Maternal age, mother's job, education level, living area, child's birth weight, child's birth rank, birth intervals, and age of onset of supplementary food had a significant relationship with breastfeeding continuation.


CONCLUSIONS
Some risk factors for breastfeeding continuation were found, and it is suggested that more attention be paid to them in education programs by the health system.
Rakhshani
F
F
Research Center for Social Development and Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Behdasht Boulevard, 98169-13396 Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran. rakhshanif@yahoo.com
Mohammadi
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001721:Birth Intervals; D001722:Birth Order; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014886:Weaning; D055815:Young Adult