Local environmental quality positively predicts breastfeeding in the UK's Millennium Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives: Breastfeeding is an important form of parental investment with clear health benefits. Despite this, rates remain low in the UK; understanding variation can therefore help improve interventions. Life history theory suggests that environmental quality may pattern maternal investment, including breastfeeding. We analyse a nationally representative dataset to test two predictions: (i) higher local environmental quality predicts higher likelihood of breastfeeding initiation and longer duration; (ii) higher socioeconomic status (SES) provides a buffer against the adverse influences of low local environmental quality. Methodology: We ran factor analysis on a wide range of local-level environmental variables. Two summary measures of local environmental qual

SUBMITTER: Brown LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5766197 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature