| Determinants of breast-feeding patterns in an urban society of India. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 9198314 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Breast feeding is the focus of rapidly growing interest in many areas of demographic research. However, relatively few rigorous studies on breast-feeding patterns and correlates in contemporary India have been published. This study uses data from a retrospective survey conducted in 1991-1992 to investigate current breast-feeding patterns and to identify the key factors that influence the duration of exclusive breast feeding and infant's age at the time of weaning in an urban Hindu society of the northeast Indian state of Assam. Applying life table procedures and a hazards regression model, we found evidence that the median duration of exclusive breast feeding and infant's age at the time of weaning were negatively associated with mother's education, per capita income, and social status of the household. Those infants who were breast-fed longer at night than in the daytime were also at greater risk of earlier introduction of non-breast-milk foods and of earlier termination of breast feeding than infants who were breast-fed longer during the day. Gender bias toward males in rearing infants prevails in this urban society, and male infants were found to have a significantly lower risk of early weaning than female infants. This study examines breast feeding patterns among Hindu mothers from Guwahati city, Assam state, India. Data were obtained from a 1991-92 household survey and a subsample of 1650 women aged under 50 years who lived in the capital city. 38.0% had less than a primary education (8.9% of wage earners and 29.1% of non-wage earners). 40.6% had some primary education (3.9% of wage earners and 36.7% of non-wage earners). 21.4% graduated from high school (11.7% of wage earners and 9.7% of non-wage earners). 75.5% of the sample were non-wage earners. Findings indicate that among the last two births the median duration of breast feeding was 16 weeks. 75% of infants were introduced to non-breast-milk products by the age of 26 weeks. The median age of weaning was 19 months. 64% of infants were not breast fed at 36 months. As level of mother's education increased, the duration of breast feeding decreased. The longest duration was among mothers with low educational attainment. At 6 months, almost double the infants of highly educated mothers were receiving non-breast-milk foods compared to less educated women. Wage earners did not provide non-breast-milk food earlier than non-wage earners. However, the median age at weaning was 22 months for non-wage earners and 14 months for wage earners. Maternal age was unrelated to median duration of breast feeding. Although older and younger mothers introduced non-breast-milk foods almost at the same time of 4 months, younger mothers breast fed longer. This longer breast feeding pattern suggests its use for birth spacing. Income and caste membership were unrelated to duration of exclusive breast feeding. The hazard analysis indicates that higher educated mothers were at greater risk of early introduction of non-breast-milk foods and an earlier stop to breast feeding. Female children had a higher risk of an earlier stop to breast feeding. |
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Authors:
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D C Nath; G Goswami |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Human biology Volume: 69 ISSN: 0018-7143 ISO Abbreviation: Hum. Biol. Publication Date: 1997 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1997-07-24 Completed Date: 1997-07-24 Revised Date: 2011-04-18 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0116717 Medline TA: Hum Biol Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 557-73 Citation Subset: IM; J |
Affiliation:
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Department of Statistics, Gauhati University, Assam, India. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Breast Feeding* Female Humans India Infant Infant, Newborn Male Middle Aged Multivariate Analysis Proportional Hazards Models Retrospective Studies Socioeconomic Factors Urban Health* Weaning |
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