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Unintended pregnancies are associated with less likelihood of prolonged breast-feeding: an analysis of 18 Demographic and Health Surveys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Amber J Hromi-Fiedler  and
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla
Amber J Hromi-Fiedler*
Affiliation:
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Roy E Jones Building, UNIT 4017, 3624 Horsebarn Road Ext., Storrs, CT 06269-4017, USA
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla
Affiliation:
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Roy E Jones Building, UNIT 4017, 3624 Horsebarn Road Ext., Storrs, CT 06269-4017, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Email amber.hromi@uconn.edu
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Abstract

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Objective

To examine the relationship between unintended pregnancies and prolonged breast-feeding among 18 countries on an individual and aggregated level.

Design and setting

Regional multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine this association based on 18 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1995 and 2000.

Subjects

Women who had a live child between 13 and 36 months old were included in these analyses (n = 41 353).

Results

Regression models were adjusted for 10 covariates including child age, maternal age, pregnancy status of mother at the time of interview and parity. In 11 out of the 18 countries the odds ratio (OR) of the association between unintended pregnancies and prolonged breast-feeding was <1.0, reaching statistical significance in three countries. Pooled analyses of all 18 countries detected a significant association between unintended pregnancies and less likelihood of prolonged breast-feeding (OR = 0.90, 95% confidence interval = 0.85–0.96).

Conclusions

Prospective studies are needed to further understand if and how pregnancy intentions influence breast-feeding outcomes in different settings.

Keywords

Pregnancy intentionBreast-feedingDemographic andHealth Survey
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , May 2006 , pp. 306 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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