INFANT-FEEDING IN MALTA

Fewer Maltese women now initiate breastfeeding than in the past, and those that do breastfeed do so for only short intervals. The reasons for the decline are mainly social ones. Breastfeeding trends in Maltese women reached low levels in 1981 when only 24.5% of women leaving the hospital were breastfeeding. Afterwards the situation improved with rates of 45.9% in 1983-85 and 66.3% in 1986. A number of sociobiological factors may influence breastfeeding patterns. Thus the Maltese woman who artificially feeds her child is more likely to have a low educational standard and is more likely to smoke. She is more likely to be aged more than 35 years and be multiparous. Mothers delivered by Caesarean section were also less likely to breastfeed their young. Women who do not breastfeed do so for a variety of reasons, but the majority fail to initiate breastfeeding because of reasons which may be attributable to lack of education. Many women who initiate breastfeeding stop after a short while, so that after 3 months only 36.6% of initial breastfeeders continue to do so, while after 6 months only 11.2% are still breastfeeding. The commonest reason for stopping breastfeeding appeared to be 'insufficient milk' or a 'too demanding baby'. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.