Prevalence of breastfeeding in Italy: a population based follow-up study

摘要

Introduction. Breastfeeding is widely recommended. Updated data are needed to assessits prevalence and the effectiveness of interventions. Breastfeeding practices in Italyneed to be promoted and monitored with updated and standard data The objectiveof this study is to provide estimates of the prevalence of breastfeeding and exclusivelybreastfeeding and to identify factors that may be modified to improve them.Materials and methods. Two population-based follow-up surveys were conducted toevaluate the quality of maternal care in 25 Local Health Units (LHUs) in Italy during2008-2011. Women were interviewed soon after giving birth and after 3, 6 and 12months. Breastfeeding prevalences were estimated. A logistic regression model was usedto investigate factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months.Results. Breastfeeding and exclusively breastfeeding prevalence estimates were 91.6%and 57.2% at discharge, 71.6% and 48.6% at 3 months, 57.7% and 5.5% at 6 months.At 12 months, 32.5% were still breastfeeding. Women who are more likely to exclusivelybreastfeed at 3 months are multiparous, more educated, resident in the north/center,have attended antenatal classes and groups of breastfeeding support, have practiced theskin-to-skin contact in hospital and have initiated breastfeeding early.Conclusion. In Italy many mothers do not comply with breastfeeding recommendations.The promotion and support of breastfeeding is still necessary in Italy and still needs to bemonitored with representative data. Actions should aim at empowering women, reducingsocial inequalities and improving practices in hospitals and maternal care serviceswhich encourage breastfeeding.