TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong and Mainland China born mothers
AU - Lok, Kris Yuet Wan
AU - Bai, Dorothy Li
AU - Tarrant, Marie
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided by the Health and Medical Research Fund, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong SAR (Grant No. 10090982). The funding body had no role in the study design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, the writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors want to thank Hawthorn Cheung, Katherine Lam, Ebby Hui, Brenda Law, Connie Chiu, Stephanie Lam, Ryanne Kun, and Diana Tin for their assistance with participant recruitment and data collection. Special thanks to Vincci Chan for assistance with the study management and coordination.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Lok et al.
PY - 2015/11/3
Y1 - 2015/11/3
N2 - Background: In recent years there has been a steady influx of immigrants into Hong Kong from Mainland China, where breastfeeding patterns differ. Studies in other regions have found substantial differences in breastfeeding rates between native-born and immigrant mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born mothers living in Hong Kong. Methods: We used a multi-center cross-sectional study design and recruited 2761 new mothers from the postnatal wards of all eight public hospitals in Hong Kong that offer obstetric services. We assessed breastfeeding status as well as various socio-demographic, maternal and birth characteristics. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify the predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born participants. Results: 80.3% of Hong Kong and 81.1% of Mainland Chinese born women initiated breastfeeding. In the fully adjusted models, multiparity (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.53, 95% CI 0.43-0.66) and maternal smoking (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.18-0.45) were strongly associated with failure to initiate breastfeeding in both Hong Kong and Mainland China born participants. In Hong Kong born mothers, participants with lower maternal education and those who had a cesarean section were significantly less likely to breastfeed. For Mainland China born mothers, paternal smoking (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49-0.99) and having a pregnancy-related health problem (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38-0.94) were both additional risk factors for not breastfeeding. Conclusion: This study has identified predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong and Mainland China born mothers. Given the current high breastfeeding initiation rates among both groups, antenatal breastfeeding education and promotion programmes need to specifically intervene with sub-groups of pregnant women at risk for not breastfeeding so that their efforts are more strategic and cost-effective.
AB - Background: In recent years there has been a steady influx of immigrants into Hong Kong from Mainland China, where breastfeeding patterns differ. Studies in other regions have found substantial differences in breastfeeding rates between native-born and immigrant mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born mothers living in Hong Kong. Methods: We used a multi-center cross-sectional study design and recruited 2761 new mothers from the postnatal wards of all eight public hospitals in Hong Kong that offer obstetric services. We assessed breastfeeding status as well as various socio-demographic, maternal and birth characteristics. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify the predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born participants. Results: 80.3% of Hong Kong and 81.1% of Mainland Chinese born women initiated breastfeeding. In the fully adjusted models, multiparity (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.53, 95% CI 0.43-0.66) and maternal smoking (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.18-0.45) were strongly associated with failure to initiate breastfeeding in both Hong Kong and Mainland China born participants. In Hong Kong born mothers, participants with lower maternal education and those who had a cesarean section were significantly less likely to breastfeed. For Mainland China born mothers, paternal smoking (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49-0.99) and having a pregnancy-related health problem (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38-0.94) were both additional risk factors for not breastfeeding. Conclusion: This study has identified predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong and Mainland China born mothers. Given the current high breastfeeding initiation rates among both groups, antenatal breastfeeding education and promotion programmes need to specifically intervene with sub-groups of pregnant women at risk for not breastfeeding so that their efforts are more strategic and cost-effective.
KW - Breastfeeding
KW - Chinese
KW - Hong Kong
KW - Initiation
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U2 - 10.1186/s12884-015-0719-5
DO - 10.1186/s12884-015-0719-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 26531299
AN - SCOPUS:84946227511
SN - 1471-2393
VL - 15
JO - BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
JF - BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
IS - 1
M1 - 286
ER -