Initiation and Continuation of Breastfeeding and its Associated Factors in Children

Background: Advantages of breastfeeding are widely known and in general undispuled. This study shows different breastfeeding patterns and continuation in the country. This study was conducted to estimate breastfeeding continuation and its associated factors. Materials and Methods: An existing data study was carried out to estimate the duration of breastfeeding and its associated factors in Zahedan. 2007 children 2 to 6 years in Zahedan health centres were studied using health records from 1998 to 2002. Breastfeeding duration and some of it’s associated factors such as parent’s age, education, and job, child’s sex, birth rank, birth weight, and the time of the onset of supplementary feeding were collected. Results: The mean duration of breastfeeding was 18.09+6.2 months. Ninety-nine percent of women initiated feeding of babies with breastfeeding. It was 91.6%, 81.7%, 54.5% and 2% in the months of 6, 12, 18, and 24 respectively. Breastfeeding was related to maternal age, birth rank, birth weight and the timing of the onset of supplementary feeding. There was no relation between breastfeeding and parent’s education and job, child sex, and delivery type. Children born in 2000 has been breastfed significantly less than those born in 1997-1999. Conclusion: It is necessary to have planning for maintaining and promoting breastfeeding based on modifiable factors.