Kambale M J
Independent researcher, Falconara M, Italy.
Afr Health Sci. 2011 Sep;11(3):508-17.
Breastfeeding is surely the best way to feed an infant at least in the first six months of life.
To investigate the social determinants of breastfeeding behaviors among Italian women.
Data for this study were drawn from the Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) survey conducted in 2005 which comprised a nationally representative sample of 50,474 households (128,040 subjects). This 2005 ISTAT survey asked several questions to women who delivered (n = 5,812) in the past five years prior to the survey about their breastfeeding behaviours. Breastfeeding initiation rate and duration for ≥ six months were our main dependent variables while independent variables included socio demographics and health-related factors. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-squared test and multiple logistic regressions were performed.
Our sample comprised 5,812 women. Rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration for e″ six months were respectively 82.0 percent and 70.0 percent. Social determinants of breastfeeding initiation were older ages (OR: 1.029, p = 0.019) and employment status (OR: 1.289, p = 0.032). No social factor was associated to breastfeeding duration.
Rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration in Italy are rather high. Age and employment status were the main social determinants (breastfeeding initiation) found.
母乳喂养无疑是喂养婴儿的最佳方式，至少在婴儿出生后的前六个月是这样。
调查意大利女性母乳喂养行为的社会决定因素。
本研究的数据来自意大利国家统计局（ISTAT）2005年进行的一项调查，该调查包括一个具有全国代表性的50474户家庭样本（128040名受试者）。这项2005年的ISTAT调查向在调查前五年内分娩的女性（n = 5812）询问了几个关于她们母乳喂养行为的问题。母乳喂养开始率和持续六个月及以上的时间是我们的主要因变量，而自变量包括社会人口统计学和健康相关因素。进行了描述性统计、Pearson卡方检验和多元逻辑回归分析。
我们的样本包括5812名女性。母乳喂养开始率和持续六个月及以上的比例分别为82.0%和70.0%。母乳喂养开始的社会决定因素是年龄较大（OR：1.029，p = 0.019）和就业状况（OR：1.289，p = 0.032）。没有社会因素与母乳喂养持续时间相关。
意大利的母乳喂养开始率和持续时间相当高。年龄和就业状况是发现的主要社会决定因素（母乳喂养开始）。
