Background: The current situation of breastfeeding in China has been discussed in many articles, and a declining trend of breastfeeding duration has been confirmed. The associations between various socioeconomic, reproductive factors and breastfeeding duration have been discussed as well. However, there remains a lack of evidence on breastfeeding duration amongst different age groups.
Methods: Data was extracted from the baseline of a large cohort study: a sample of 300,000 adult women born in the 1930s' through 1970s' from 10 geographically distinct regions was obtained. The breastfeeding duration was assumed by breastfeeding duration of the first child. Different age groups were categorized by 10-year age groups, and they were born in 1930-1938, 1939-1948, 1949-1958, 1959-1968, and 1969-1974. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between breastfeeding duration and sociodemographic, and reproductive factors (i.e.: different age groups, education, household size, use of oral contraceptive pills, age at menarche, and age at first birth).
Results: The mean breastfeeding duration (Standard Deviation) of women born in 1930-1938, 1939-1948, 1949-1958, 1959-1968, and 1969-1974 were 15.4 (9.2), 14.8 (8.2), 14.7 (8.9), 12.8 (7.2), 13.1 (7.2) months, respectively. Younger age groups, higher levels of education, and use of oral contraceptive pills were negatively associated with breastfeeding duration. In particular, the negative association with higher levels of education (for urban regions: βmiddle school = - 1.3, βhigh school & above = - 1.6; for rural regions: βmiddle school = - 0.6, βhigh school & above = - 1.2; all p < 0.0001) was found significant in both rural and urban areas, household size (β = - 0.1, p < 0.0001) and age at first birth (β = - 0.2, p < 0.0001) were negatively associated with breastfeeding duration only in urban areas, but were all positively associated with breastfeeding duration in rural areas.
Conclusions: This research demonstrated that, among Chinese women, younger age groups and higher levels of education were negatively associated with breastfeeding duration. Considering the declining trend of breastfeeding duration in China, healthcare providers need to continue advocating for breastfeeding practices. We also call for collaboration with various sectors and concerned groups to actions that promote breastfeeding-friendly environment and measures.
Keywords: Age difference; Breastfeeding duration; Education; Reproductive factors.