title: Association between breastfeeding support and breastfeeding rates in the UK: a comparison of late preterm and term infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association between breastfeeding support and breastfeeding among late preterm (gestation 34-36 weeks) and term (gestation ≥37 weeks) infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of the UK 2010 Infant Feeding Survey. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of breastfeeding support with breastfeeding at 10 days and 6 weeks in late preterm and term infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 14,525 term and 579 late preterm infants. A total of 11,729 infants initiated breastfeeding (11,292 (81.1%) term, 437 (79.4%) late preterm infants, p=0.425). Of these, 9230 (84.3%) term and 365 (85.6%) late preterm infants were breastfeeding at 10 days (p=0.586); of these 7547 (82.0%) term and 281 (75.4%) late preterm infants were still breastfeeding at 6 weeks (p=0.012). Mothers who reported receiving contact details for breastfeeding support groups had a higher likelihood of breastfeeding late preterm (adjusted ORs, aOR 3.14, 95% CI 1.40 to 7.04) and term infants (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.86 to 2.68) at 10 days and term infants at 6 weeks (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.51 to 2.22). Those who reported that they did not receive enough help with breastfeeding in hospital had a lower likelihood of breastfeeding late preterm at 10 days and term infants at 10 days and 6 weeks, compared to those who reported having enough help.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Receiving sufficient help with breastfeeding in hospital and the contact details for breastfeeding support groups is associated with breastfeeding term infants up to 6 weeks and late preterm infants at 10 days.
authors.affiliation: Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rayfield
authors.affiliation: Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oakley
authors.affiliation: Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Quigley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D057566:Self Report; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D047929:Term Birth; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; NUTRITION & DIETETICS; Public health