The relationship between breastfeeding and maternal education and family income

Aim. To assess the relationship between breastfeeding and maternal education and family income in Samara.

Methods. A survey was conducted among 174 mothers in the children's outpatient clinic, in which their children were assigned at the place of residence. Information on breastfeeding and its duration, mother's education, and family income were obtained by questionnaire and copying data from outpatient records. Pearson's chi-square, Mann–Whitney U test and logistic regression were used in the statistical processing of the data.

Results. There was a positive association of maternal education (χ2=11.25; p=0.024) and income (χ2=11.5; p=0.022) with breastfeeding practices. Higher education, compared with specialized secondary or secondary education, increased the likelihood of breastfeeding for more than 6 months with an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.18–5.73; p=0.018). The median (and its Q1–Q3 quartiles) breastfeeding duration was 4.0 months (Q1–Q3 2.0–14.0 months) for mothers with secondary or specialized secondary education and 12.0 months (Q1–Q3 4.0–18.0 months; p=0.012) for mothers with higher education. It was found that 67.7% of women with incomes above the subsistence level per family member ($150) breastfed for more than 7 months and only 43.9% of women with incomes below the subsistence level (p=0.011). The likelihood of breastfeeding for more than 6 months in household income above one minimum wage per family member compared with household income below increases with an odds ratio of 2.18 (95% confidence interval 1.03–4.60; p=0.041). There was no relationship between lactation cessation and maternal education or family income.

Conclusion. There is a positive relationship between mother's education and family income and the practice of breastfeeding.