The relative importance of social class and maternal education for breast-feeding initiation

Bibliographic Data

ID15096879
AuthorsValeria Skafida (0000-0001-9053-7001, University of Edinburgh, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume12
Issue12
Pages2285-2292
Publication date2009-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980009004947
PMID19243673
OpenAlexW2087063738
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited21

Objective To examine changes in breast-feeding take-up rates among young children in Scotland and to assess whether maternal education or occupation-based social class is a stronger and better predictor of breast-feeding take-up. Design Binary logistic regression models were developed from the first sweep of the Growing Up in Scotland longitudinal survey, for the two cohorts of children. Setting A national representative survey for Scotland. Subjects A baby cohort of 5012 singletons born over a 12-month period between June 2004 and May 2005, and a toddler cohort of 2732 singletons born over a 12-month period between June 2002 and May 2003. Results Mothers from more privileged social classes and those with more educational qualifications resulted as more likely to breast-feed. However, maternal education was a better and more robust predictor of breast-feeding take-up compared with social class. There were no significant differences in breast-feeding take-up between the two cohorts and only minor differences between mothers aged 20–29 years and those who stated an intention to bottle-feed prior to birth. Conclusions The study suggests that the importance of maternal education in influencing breast-feeding has been somewhat overlooked in research based in more developed countries. The results indicate that, compared with occupation-related social class, maternal education is a more informative, accurate and useful lens through which to understand and explain patterns of breast-feeding take-up

Breast feeding · Cohort · Cohort study · Developmental psychology · Logistic regression · Social class · Sociology · Toddler · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Pediatrics

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