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Journal of Human Lactation
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*Breast Feeding
*Infant and Newborn Care
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Ethnic Variation in Infant-Feeding Practices in the Netherlands and Weight Gain at 4 Months

Anneke M. W. Bulk-Bunschoten, MD, PhD

Department of Public and Occupational Health and the EMGO Institute VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, the Netherlands, amwbulk{at}worldonline.nl

Pieternel C. M. Pasker-de Jong, PhD

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nijmegen University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Jacobus P. van Wouwe, MD, PhD

Quality of Life Institute, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Leiden, the Netherlands

Cornelis J. de Groot, MD, PhD

Academic Medical Centre/Emma Kinderziekenhuis, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This prospective study of 4438 infants (0-4 months) examined differences in infant-feeding patterns in relation to the ethnic origin of their mothers, based on the mother's native language: Dutch (87%), Turkish (4%), Moroccan (3%), other European languages (3%), and various other languages (4%). Breastfeeding at birth varied between 75% and 94%. Dutch and Moroccan mothers breastfed for a shorter period (32% and 37% at 4 months, respectively) than did Turkish mothers and mothers with a native European language other than Dutch (47% and 51% at 4 months, respectively; P < .001). Of all mothers, 71% started exclusive breastfeeding at birth, and 21% continued exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months. The reasons why mothers discontinued breastfeeding (both exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding) were generally infant related. The average weight gain between birth and day 133 was 3.45, 3.87, and 3.69 kg for Dutch, Turkish, and Moroccan infants, respectively. Weight gain was influenced by ethnicity of the mothers and exclusive breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 24(1):42-49.

Key Words: breastfeeding • infant feeding • maternal ethnicity • the Netherlands

Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 24, No. 1, 42-49 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0890334407311338
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