Breastfeeding and the introduction of different breast milk substitutes in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract EN

Objectives : To Explore the mothers’ motives and timings for introducing different breast fed milk substitutes (BMS).

Design : Randomized cross-sectional study to assess the mothers’ attitudes towards breast milk substitutes during the first two years of their babies life.

Data related to family socio-demographic background, age, gender, and siblings were extracted.

In addition, types, timing, and reasons for introduction of breast milk substitutes were considered.

Setting : All 19 maternal & child health clinics within primary health care settings in the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2002.

Subjects : A representative sample of 408 infants and children aged 0–24 months were randomly selected.

Results : Out of 408 infant and child recruited ; 41 (10 %) were exclusively breastfed, 228 (55.9 %) received formula milk, while 33 (8.1 %) received fresh cow’s milk.

Mother’s education was correlated with the breastfeeding practices (P < 0.05).

Significant correlation (P < 0.01) was found between the mother’s occupation and family income.

It was concluded that 4.9 % of infants received formula milk only (never breastfed).

Infants who received water and herbal medications during the first four months represent 62.3 % of the sample.

The main reasons for introducing BMS were the mother’s health status (32.2 %), child refusal (27.1 %), and mother’s work (16.7 %).

The highest introduction rate of BMS was found in the Capital Region (58.6 %), followed by Muharraq Region (51.4 %), while the least was in the Northern Region (48.3 %).

Conclusions : Rate of introduction of BMS was high, especially during the recommended exclusive breastfeeding period.

Therefore, strengthening of the national intervention programs is highly recommended to minimize this phenomenon.