title: The association between maternal perception of obstetric and pediatric care providers' attitudes and exclusive breastfeeding outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for 6 months. Successful breastfeeding requires support from family members, peers, and health care professionals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the association between maternal perception of the attitudes of obstetric and pediatric care providers about infant feeding during the neonatal period and exclusive breastfeeding at 1, 3, and 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 1602 women from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (2005-2007), a longitudinal study of women in the United States. Analyses included chi-square and Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers who perceived that the obstetric care provider favored exclusive breastfeeding were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed their infants at 1 and 3 months (odds ratio [OR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33-2.24; and OR = 1.41, 95% CI, 1.09-1.80, respectively) as compared to mothers who perceived that the obstetric care provider was neutral about the type of infant feeding. Similarly, mothers who perceived that the pediatric care provider favored exclusive breastfeeding had higher odds of exclusively breastfeeding their infants at 1 and 3 months (OR = 1.53, 95% CI, 1.17-1.99; and OR = 1.51, 95% CI, 1.17-1.95, respectively) as compared to mothers who perceived that the pediatric care provider was neutral about the type of infant feeding. The association was no longer significant at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal perception of obstetric and pediatric care providers' preference for exclusive breastfeeding during the neonatal period is associated with exclusive breastfeeding until 3 months.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Rema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Oberg
authors.forename: Russell S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kirby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009774:Obstetrics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010372:Pediatrics; D010465:Perception; D011181:Postnatal Care; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breast milk; breastfeeding; breastfeeding attitudes; breastfeeding support