Factors affecting breastfeeding duration in Greece: What is important?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate factors associated with breastfeeding duration (BD) in a sample of mothers living in Greece.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty-eight mothers (438 infants) were initially recruited in a tertiary University Hospital. Monthly telephone interviews (1665 in total) using a structured questionnaire (one for each infant) were conducted until the sixth postpartum month. Cox regression analysis was used to assess factors influencing any BD.


RESULTS
Any breastfeeding rates in the first, third, and sixth month of the infant's life reached 87.5%, 57.0% and 38.75%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, maternal smoking in the lactation period [hazard-ratio (HR) = 4.20] and psychological status (HR = 1.72), and the introduction of a pacifier (HR = 2.08), were inversely associated, while higher maternal education (HRuniversity/college vs primary/high school = 0.53, HRmaster's vs primary/high school = 0.20), and being an immigrant (HR = 0.35) were positively associated with BD.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health interventions should focus on campaigns against smoking during lactation, target women of lower educational status, and endorse the delayed introduction of pacifiers.
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Evangelia-Filothei
EF
Tavoulari
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Vassiliki
V
Benetou
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Petros V
PV
Vlastarakos
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Theodora
T
Psaltopoulou
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
George
G
Chrousos
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
George
G
Kreatsas
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Alexandros
A
Gryparis
Evangelia-Filothei Tavoulari, Vassiliki Benetou, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Alexandros Gryparis, Athena Linos, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Athena
A
Linos
Breastfeeding; Duration; Exclusive; Formula feeding; Greece