Breastfeeding duration and life-course factors: An analysis to inform health policy

Background: Breastfeeding improves health of both mothers and infants. Public health, medicine, and advocacy groups recommend exclusive breastfeeding of infants to at least 6 months of age. Most US women do not meet this recommendation. Factors supporting or hindering breastfeeding are identified, but their influence on breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding is less understood. This study uses the life-course perspective of health to examine relationships among breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding and life-course factors of demographic characteristics, employment and childcare factors and maternal depression risk. Results may inform national and local policy decisions. Methods: Study data were obtained from the longitudinal Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) conducted by the FDA and CDC from 2005-2007. IFPS II surveyed a national sample of more than 4,900 mothers prenatally and repeatedly until their children were 12 months old. Bivariate and multivariate methods were used to measure association between the dependent variables breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding with demographic, employment, childcare, depression risk, health and social support for breastfeeding. Results: Duration of breastfeeding varied within the sample based on employment, childcare, and depression risk. The interaction of these life-course factors also influences breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Conclusion: Recognizing factors which may influence duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding can assist in developing informed policies and practices likely to achieve the full benefit of breastfeeding for mothers, infants, and society.