Rates and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in first 6 months among women in Nova Scotia: a population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite compelling evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life provides important health benefits to both mothers and their infants, most mothers do not follow this practice. We conducted a study to identify predictors of early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding (before 6 months after delivery).

Methods

For this population-based longitudinal cohort study, we linked data from a perinatal database and a public health database for infants born between 2006 and 2009 in 2 regions in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The cohort was followed from the mother's first prenatal visit until her infant was 6 months old. Hazard ratios (HRs) for early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding were determined through Cox proportional hazards regression mo

SUBMITTER: Brown CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3985901 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature