The Pattern of full and complementary breast-feeding in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective: Examine the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers in relation to the varying durations of breastfeeding. Methods: The source of data was the Maternal and Child Health-Family Planning Project in Matlab, Bangladesh. In the project area, improved health and family planning services were provided and relevant data were collected. This analysis is based on 6,033 births which took place in 1985 and 1986. Results: It is hypothesized that the durations of full and complementary breast-feeding are not uniform across socioeconomic levels, which might have an influence on the health of the child and subsequent timing of conception by the mother. The mean durations of full and complementary breast-feeding were 4.8 and 28.8 months respectively. The durations of full and complementary breast-feeding were shorter for younger mothers and those having fewer living children. Mother's level of education had a significant impact on the duration of breast-feeding; educated mothers had fully and complementarily breastfed, respectively, 1.5 and 5 months shorter than uneducated mothers. Conclusions: Programmes related to infant health and nutrition, and family planning, need to be undertaken in such a way that the pattern of prolonged breast-feeding observed among older mothers, mothers with more living children, and among the uneducated mothers can be used as a good example for other women.