Introduction

Nowadays special attention is paid to sociodemographic determinants for initiation and duration of breastfeeding.

Aim of the study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of sociodemographic determinants and initiation and duration of breastfeeding based on the Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study.

Material and methods

The current analysis, taking into account the availability of data, was restricted to 539 mother-child pairs. In the analysis the impact of sociodemographic factors on initiation and duration of breastfeeding were evaluated.

Results

Initiation of breastfeeding correlated positively with maternal level of education (rho = 0.13), and a negatively with the maternal late pregnancy body mass index (rho = –0.15), maternal smoking status during the first year after delivery (rho = –0.09) and type of delivery (rho = –0.10); p < 0.05. Continuation of initiated breastfeeding correlated positively with maternal age delivery (rho = 0.18), maternal level of education (rho = 0.17), paternal level of education (rho = 0.15), marital status (rho = 0.22), while a negative correlation was seen with maternal smoking status during the first year after delivery (rho = –0.19); p < 0.05.

Conclusions

Breastfeeding friendly policy practiced in hospitals should be brought in to effect. Also need to educate mothers about healthy lifestyle, weight reduction after childbirth and anti-smoking activities.