The Reasons for Early Weaning, Perceived Insufficient Breast Milk, and Maternal Dissatisfaction: Comparative Studies in Two Belgian Regions
Table 6
PIM according to the sample characteristics among the mothers who were breastfeeding when leaving the ward for at least 6 months (any type of BF) and among those who were breastfeeding exclusively for less than 5 months (% (), values).
Weaning exclusive BF before 5 months
Weaning any BF before 6 months
Wallonia
Brussels
Wallonia
Brussels
BF prevalence at 5 and 6 months
17.7%
38.4%
29.1%
55.7%
Proportion of PIM
23.8 (68/286)
20.7 (70/338)
23.8 (68/286)
25.0 (47/188)
Predictors
BF at maternity ward
Exclusive
—
—
25.7 (61)
22.4 (35)
Partial
23.5 (8)
37.9 (11)
value
0.8
0.08
Mother’s education level
≤first 3 years of sec. school
29.5 (31)
25.8 (24)
26.9 (28)
37.5 (18)
Last 3 years of sec. school
34.4 (21)
19.4 (18)
39.2 (20)
20.0 (11)
Higher education
12.9 (15)
16.8 (25)
17.7 (20)
20.2 (17)
value
0.001
0.3
0.01
0.05
Father’s education level
≤first 3 years of sec. school
21.5 (23)
28.9 (24)
20.8 (21)
31.3 (15)
Last 3 years of sec. school
37.1 (23)
18.2 (16)
40.4 (23)
28.3 (13)
Higher education
17.5 (17)
17.4 (25)
21.7 (20)
19.5 (16)
value
0.01
0.09
0.01
0.3
Awareness of the WHO recommendations
Yes
12.5 (9)
22.6 (14)
13.8 (8)
21.1 (8)
No
27.6 (59)
20.3 (56)
28.6 (61)
25.8 (42)
value
0.009
0.7
0.02
0.6
Mother delivery in BFHI
Yes
32.4 (23)
21.4 (46)
32.4 (23)
22.4 (35)
No
21.4 (45)
19.0 (20)
21.4 (45)
37.9 (11)
value
0.06
0.6
0.06
0.08
Preterm
Yes
53.3 (8)
20.5 (65)
53.3 (8)
24.9 (44)
No
22.1 (60)
23.5 (5)
22.1 (60)
27.3 (3)
value
0.006
0.7
0.006
1.0
Never significant at level 0.05: birth season, attending a MCH, BHFI, infant’s sex, and mother’s native nationality.
