Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Current evidence suggests that the exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate at six months postpartum in China falls considerably below the targets recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Socioeconomic disparities in EBF have been observed in developing countries, with significant heterogeneity across studies. Despite the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in China since the 1990s to promote breastfeeding, there has been a lack of assessment concerning infants from different socioeconomic backgrounds. This study sought to investigate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and EBF and explore the potential impact of giving birth at a Baby-Friendly Hospital (BFH) on this association.Methods
We analyzed data from 98,469 mother-child dyads selected from the Maternal and Child Health Management Information System. We used log-binomial models to examine the relationships between SES and EBF, SES and giving birth at a BFH, as well as BFH births and EBF. Additionally, we explored a counterfactual mediation approach to assess the mediating role of BFH births in the SES-EBF association.Findings
We identified a significant association between SES and EBF (RRMedium vs. Low = 1.47, 95% CI 1.39-1.55; RRHigh vs. Low = 1.40, 95% CI 1.32-1.49). Mothers with higher SES were more likely to give birth at BFHs (RRMedium vs. Low = 1.85, 95% CI 1.81-1.88; RRHigh vs. Low=2.29, 95% CI 2.25-2.33). The significance of the SES-EBF association was attenuated when the type of hospital for childbirth was considered, revealing the significant mediating effect of BFH births in the SES-EBF association.Conclusion
Socioeconomic disparities are linked to infant EBF rates, with giving birth at a BFH mediating this association, especially for cases with low SES in rural areas.
SUBMITTER: Mei H
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10762853 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Mei Hong H Zhang Yuanyuan Y Chang Ruixia R Xu Ke K Zhang Jianduan J Wang Fang F
BMC public health 20240103 1
<h4>Background</h4>Current evidence suggests that the exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate at six months postpartum in China falls considerably below the targets recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Socioeconomic disparities in EBF have been observed in developing countries, with significant heterogeneity across studies. Despite the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in China since the 1990s to promote breastfeeding, there has been a lack of assessment co ...[more]