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Prevalence of breastfeeding in industrialized countries Article

Ibanez, G, Martin, N, Denantes, M et al. (2012). Prevalence of breastfeeding in industrialized countries . 60(4), 305-320. 10.1016/j.respe.2012.02.008

cited authors

  • Ibanez, G; Martin, N; Denantes, M; Saurel-Cubizolles, MJ; Ringa, V; Magnier, AM

authors

abstract

  • Background: Given the benefits of breastfeeding (BF), healthcare institutions recommend that a child should be breastfed for the first 6 months of its life. This study provides a review of BF as a function of socioeconomic criteria in various industrialized countries. Methods: A review was carried out between 1st January 1998 and 1st March 2009, using Medline and the Public Health Database. The papers were selected independently by two persons, using a methodological grid designed to evaluate the quality of the studies. From 1126 initially selected papers, 26 from 16 different countries were retained for further analysis. Results: The prevalence of exclusive BF initiation was the highest in Norway, Denmark, and Japan with, respectively, 99, 98.7, and 98.3%. This prevalence was the lowest in the United Kingdom, the United States, and France with, respectively, 70, 69.5, and 62.6%. Women who breastfeed less were most commonly found to be young, single, from a low socioeconomic group, or with a low level of education. Women from immigrant population groups breastfed more than the native-born population during their pregnancy. Conclusion: Knowledge of the sociodemographic distribution of women who breastfeed is essential for the definition of preventive policies, which are needed to reduce health-related social inequalities. An in-depth analysis of existing primary healthcare programs would allow new strategies to be defined. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS.

publication date

  • August 1, 2012

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 305

end page

  • 320

volume

  • 60

issue

  • 4