Socio-demographic and psychological determinants of exclusive breastfeeding after six months postpartum - a Polish case-cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the socio-demographic and psychological factors connected with exclusive breastfeeding after 6 months postpartum.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 251 women filled in questionnaires in the first week postpartum, then again after 3 and 6 months. The questionnaires included socio-demographic and medical questions, as well as psychological tools: the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory, the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Further detailed questions concerning breastfeeding were relevant to this study.

RESULTS: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding after 6 months was 39.68%. It was found that exclusive breastfeeding was most strongly connected with attending prenatal classes (ORa = 2.84, CI 1.18-6.87, p = 0.01), formula supplementation after 3 months (ORa = 0.01, CI 0.002-0.08, p < 0.001) and the mother's subjective satisfaction with feeding the infant after 3 months (ORa = 1.44, CI 1.01-2.06, p = 0.04). No other psychological (as far as personality, social support or risk of postpar-tum depression are concerned), demographic or medical factors were significant. Only factors pertaining to breastfeeding were significant.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Poland is unsatisfactory. Women should have easy access to prenatal classes with the most up-to-date knowledge on lactation and be advised against supplementing with formula, whenever possible. This could lead to higher satisfaction with breastfeeding.