title: [Breastfeeding in the French-speaking community of Belgium (2009)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this paper were to study the prevalence of breastfeeding in the French-speaking community of Belgium, to assess whether the targets of the Maternal and Child Health program (MCH) were met (prevalence of breastfeeding of 85, 70, 50, and 25% at the maternity hospital and at 3, 6, and 12 months of age, respectively), and to identify factors associated with breastfeeding at the maternity hospital and at 6 months of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample (two-stage cluster sampling) was drawn from the population of children aged 18-24 months living in the area. A face-to-face questionnaire was administered by trained investigators. Anamnestic data on breastfeeding at the maternity hospital and at 3, 6, and 12 months as well sociodemographic information were collected from 522 mothers. The survey took place in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the maternity hospital, 75.7% (95%CI [72.7-79.5]) of the mothers were breastfeeding: 72.4% among the Belgians (and French) and 89.0% among foreign mothers. At 3 months of age, the breastfeeding prevalence was 48.3% (CI, 44.0-52.6): 42.5% among the Belgians (and French) and 72.0% among foreign mothers (p<0.001). At 6 months of age, 26.0% of the mothers were breastfeeding (CI, 22.3-29.8): 19.3% among the Belgians (and French) and 53.0% among foreign mothers (p<0.001). At 12 months of age, 10.0% (CI, 7.4-12.5) of the mothers were breastfeeding: 4.8% among the Belgians (and French) and 31.0% among the foreign mothers (p<0.001). When fitting a logistic model, the predictors associated with breastfeeding at the maternity hospital were educational level, nationality of birth, and parity. At 6 months, logistic models were fitted separately in the two strata. Among the Belgians, the level of education and attending a MCH consultation were significantly associated with breastfeeding. In the stratum of foreign mothers, the only factor associated with breastfeeding was working time. No association was observed between breastfeeding and the mother's age at the maternity hospital or at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The targets of the MCH were not reached in Belgian and French mothers, while they were in mothers of other nationalities. Until now, transversal surveys have been the only way of knowing the prevalence and the factors associated with breastfeeding in the French-speaking community of Belgium. These first representative data on breastfeeding came from the 2009 vaccine coverage survey.
authors.affiliation: École de santé publique, politiques et système de santé, santé internationale, université Libre de Bruxelles, route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgique. Electronic address: emrobert@ulb.ac.be.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.affiliation: École de santé publique, politiques et système de santé, santé internationale, université Libre de Bruxelles, route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Despiegelaere
authors.affiliation: École de santé publique, épidémiologie, biostatistiques et recherche clinique, université Libre de Bruxelles, route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dramaix
authors.affiliation: École de santé publique, politiques et système de santé, santé internationale, université Libre de Bruxelles, route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swennen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires