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This paper seeks to estimate the prevalence of early cessation of maternal lactation, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with the premature cessation of breastfeeding. A cross‐sectional study was carried out in the population covered by the Mexican Social Security Institute in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara; a multistage random sample of all live births that occurred at this institution in 1995 took place and, 1,036 infants were studied. A questionnaire was administered to the children's mothers in their homes, although data were also obtained from medical records. The association among the variables studied and the early cessation of breastfeeding was assessed through a logistic regression model. Almost a third—29.1% of the studied infants (95% CI 26.8%‐31.4%) were completely weaned before the first month—; four variables were identified in multivariate analysis as predictors of early cessation of breastfeeding: primiparity (OR=1.68, 95% CI 1.23–2.28); unmarried mother (OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.12–2.44); low socioeconomic status (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.03–1.94) and mother with health problems during pregnancy (OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.05–1.99). Primiparity presented the highest Population Attributable Risk (23%). This study reveals the importance of early cessation of breastfeeding in the analysed population. Several maternal factors (especially primiparity) were clearly identified as predictors of this situation and should be considered—with the necessary caution—by health care providers to design strategies focused to prolong maternal lactation.
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Corresponding author. Medrano 316. Sector Reforma. CP 44450, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Tel. and Fax: 52 (3) 6411119; E‐mail: [email protected]