Factors influencing breastfeeding duration: a survey in a Turkish population

Breastfeeding provides perfect nutrition for infants and is a source of many health benefits for both mother and baby. To obtain the maximum beneficial effects of breast milk, it is necessary to prolong the breastfeeding duration. In this study, we investigated the factors influencing the duration of breastfeeding. We conducted a 32-question survey of mothers with children aged 2–4 years, who presented to our medical school's pediatric outpatient clinics. The questionnaire solicited information on demographics and breastfeeding attitudes. We found correlations between total duration of breastfeeding and the time the mother and baby spent together (sharing a room to sleep at night) and the father's engagement in breastfeeding. Breastfeeding duration inversely correlated with maternal employment. Total duration of breastfeeding did not correlate with breastfeeding education by health personnel, the mother's education level, the gender of the child, regular prenatal care visits, the use of a pacifier, the interval between birth and the onset of breastfeeding, gestational age, method of delivery, or the birth weight of the infant. Conclusion : Our findings suggest several strategies to increase the duration of breastfeeding, including educating fathers along with mothers, supporting a shared bedroom until the child is 2 years of age, and promoting measures that allow mothers to be with their children during working hours.