Socio-demographic determinants of initiation and duration of breastfeeding in northwest Russia

Aim: This study examines socio-demographic determinants of initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a community-based cohort in northwest Russia. Methods: All infants born to women who were registered at the antenatal clinics in Severodvinsk in 1999 comprised the cohort (n = 1399) and were followed up at 1 y. Data on maternal and infant characteristics as well as the duration of breastfeeding were obtained from medical records. Proportional hazard analysis was applied to quantify the effect of the selected factors on the risk of breastfeeding discontinuation adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Only 1.3% of infants were never breastfed. Breastfeeding rates were 75.0% and 47.2% at 3 and 6 mo, respectively. Maternal age and early initiation of prenatal care were positively associated with breastfeeding initiation rates. Increased risks of breastfeeding discontinuation were found in teenage mothers (OR= 1.45, 95% CI: 1.06-1.99), in mothers with basic education (OR= 1.68, 95% CI: 1.06-2.66) and in unmarried mothers (OR= 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.38). Women with no previous deliveries were more likely to breastfeed longer (OR= 0.74, 95% CI: 0.62-0.90). Conclusions: Compared with previous studies in Russia, almost universal initiation and considerably higher rates of breastfeeding at specific time points were found. Social variations in initiation and duration of breastfeeding should raise concern of inequalities in breastfeeding practices in transitional Russia.