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Psychosocial Factors Associated With the Abandonment of Breastfeeding Prior to Hospital Discharge

University Department of Human Nutrition, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, GlasgowG3 2ER, Scotland, UK

Margot C. G. Landers, M Nut Diet, Grad Dip Clin, Epi, Grad Dip Food Tech, BSc,

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada

Roger M. Hughes, MPH, Grad Dip Nut Diet, PGrad Dip Hlth Prom, BSc

Nutrition Unit, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

Colin W. Binns, MPH, MBBS

School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia

A prospective study of 556 women from Perth, Western Australia, and 503 women from the Darling Downs area, Queensland, Australia, was conducted to identify factors associated with the abandonment of breastfeeding prior to hospital discharge. In total, 88% ofwomen initiated breastfeeding, but 5% discontinued breastfeeding while still in the hospital. Discontinuation of breastfeeding prior to discharge was associated with a number of psychosocial factors, namely, infant feeding method being chosen after becoming pregnant, a perception by the mother that the infant%’s father either preferred formula feeding or was ambivalent about how the infant was fed, and whether the mother's own mother had ever breastfed. Judicious questioning prenatally regarding a woman's commitment to, social support for, and prior exposure to breastfeeding will help identify thosewomen most at risk of abandoning breastfeeding prematurely. Such women should be targeted for additional support while in the hospital.

Key Words: breastfeeding • abandonment • maternal commitment • social support

Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 17, No. 1, 24-30 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/089033440101700106


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