The study analysed anonymised data from the SAIL Databank, linking information from the Maternal Indicators (MIDS) dataset and the National Community Child Health (NCCH) Births and Breastfeeding dataset.
The team examined two sets of responses to explore the connection between breastfeeding intentions and duration. The first set came from the Born in Wales Survey, which asked expectant mothers about how they planned to feed their baby.
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The second set, from the MIDS data, documented mothers’ intentions after giving birth. By comparing responses from the two sources, the researchers could explore how a mother’s intentions during pregnancy and postpartum influenced breastfeeding.
Key findings from the study include:
- Intention to breastfeed was strongly associated with a higher likelihood of exclusively breastfeeding for six months.
- Breastfeeding rates at six months were higher during COVID-19 compared to the pre-pandemic period.
- Black mothers were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed for six months than mothers of other ethnicities.
Based on its findings, the study proposes targeted interventions during pregnancy to encourage motivation and intention to breastfeed and the development of policies and support systems to enable families to spend more time with their babies. Measures such as maternal and paternal leave can contribute to improved breastfeeding duration.
Reference :
- Breastfeeding initiation and duration through the COVID-19 pandemics – (https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/7/1/e001907.full)
Source: Eurekalert
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