Intimate partner violence and early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months of life.
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of intimate partner violence in the early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months of life. We used data from a prospective cohort of 564 children attending four primary health clinics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Interruption of exclusive breastfeeding was defined as a child receiving any kind of liquid or solid, regardless of breast milk intake, measured by a 24 hour recall. The Portuguese version of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS-1) was used to assess intimate partner violence. Associations were expressed as prevalence ratios and relative risks and their respective 95% confidence intervals. Children of mothers who experienced severe violence had 30% greater likelihood of early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding in the second month of life as compared to those who did not experience this type of violence. Strategies in health services for promoting exclusive breastfeeding should consider identifying and addressing family violence.
Instituto de Nutrição, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Maria Helena
MH
Hasselmann
University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, U.S.A.|Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, U.S.A.
Ana Cristina
AC
Lindsay
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, U.S.A.
Pamela J
PJ
Surkan
Instituto de Nutrição, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Gabriela Vasconcellos de Barros
GV
Vianna
Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Guilherme L
GL
Werneck
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data