SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ATOPIC FACTORS AFFECTING
THE INTENTION TO BREASTFEEDING IN CHINESE MOTHERS
Leung TF, Tam WH*, Wong GWK, Fok TF
Departments of Paediatrics and
*Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Objective: The prevalence of breastfeeding (BF)
in Hong Kong Chinese has been low. We conduct a questionnaire survey to
study the socio-economic factors and atopic background of Chinese mothers
that may influence their BF intention in the perinatal period.
Methods: A standardised, self-administered,
two-page questionnaire was sent to all Chinese mothers, who are Hong Kong
residents, within 24 hours of delivery in the postnatal ward of a
university teaching hospital.
Results: 1374 (94.6%) of 1453 questionnaires
sent to postpartum mothers were returned. One-third of parents and 16% of
siblings had history of allergies. Fathers and mothers with allergic
diseases were more prevalent in mothers who intended to BF (P<0.0001 and 0.005). Older
mothers, those born outside Hong Kong or with higher education level also
intended to give BF (P<0.0001,
0.015 and <0.0001). Logistic regression showed that older maternal age
and higher education background were associated with intention to BF (P=0.037 and <0.0001). Mothers with
allergic diseases intended to BF for longer duration (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Half of our Chinese mothers showed
the intention to BF immediately postpartum. Maternal age and education
background, rather than history of allergies, were the decisive factors for
BF.