Breast-feeding patterns in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Nearly 1500 women with live births from February through September 1974 were included in this multiple phase study of breast-feeding patterns in a rural area of Banglandesh. The median duration of breast feeding was observed to be 30 months. Over 75% of the women whose most recently born children were living were breast feeding at 2 1/2 years postpartum. The major reason for discontinuing breast feeding in the 1st year was infant death, and in the 2nd year, pregnancy. Insufficient milk was given as a reason for discontinuing breast feeding by 18% of the women who stopped breast feeding for reasons other than child death; among these women almost 60% were pregnant at the time they stopped. Of the breast-feeding women who became pregnant, over 50% continued to breast feed through the 6th month of pregnancy. A sample of 200 breast-feeding women with children ages 17 to 25 months were followed longitudinally for 1 1/2 years or until the mothers conceived. A seasonal trend in suckling time was observed with women reducing suckling during the harvest season. Total suckling time was inversely associated with socioeconomic factors and with infant nutritional status. No association was found between mean suckling time and maternal nutritional status, maternal morbidity, infant morbidity, or child's sex.

PIP: A study of nearly 1500 women with live births from February-September 1974 recorded the patterns of breast-feeding using a multiple-phase interview method, in rural Bangladesh. The average breast feeding duration was 30 months. Three quarters of those whose most recently born children were living were breast feeding at 2 1/2 years postpartum. Infant death was the major reason for discontinuing in the first year; in the second year the major reason was pregnancy. 18% discontinued breast feeding because of insufficient milk; among these women almost 60% were pregnant when they stopped. Of those breast feeding women who became pregnant over 50% continued to breast feed through the 6th month of pregnancy. A sample of 200 breast feeding women with children ages 17-25 months were followed longitudinally for 1 1/2 years or until the mothers conceived. Suckling time observed a seasonal trend with women reducing suckling during the harvest season. Total suckling time was inversely associated with socioeconomic factors and with infant nutritional status. No association was found between maternal nutritional status, maternal morbidity, infant morbidity, child's sex and mean suckling time