Taha Zainab, Ktaibi Farid El, Hijazi Rafiq
Department of Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Department of Mathematics, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Front Pediatr. 2025 Aug 29;13:1465193. doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1465193. eCollection 2025.
Breastfeeding (BF) rates remain suboptimal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite global and national efforts. This study examined the association of socio-demographic factors, perinatal characteristics, and hospital maternity practices with breastfeeding outcomes in the UAE. In this cross-sectional study, 1,815 participating mothers with children below the age of 2 answered structured questions related to socioeconomics, hospital practices, and BF. Multivariate analysis showed that a non-Emirati nationality and vaginal birth were significantly associated with higher initiation rates (AOR = 6.19, 95% CI 1.96-19.54 and AOR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.35-5.21, respectively), timely initiation (AOR = 0.48, 95%CI 0.35-0.66, respectively), longer BF duration (AOR = 1.55, 95%CI 1.05-2.27 and AOR = 1.45, 95%CI 1.08-1.93, respectively) and longer exclusive BF duration (AOR = 1.50, 95%CI 1.06-2.11 and AOR = 1.35, 95%CI 1.03-1.78, respectively). Additionally, parity, hospital practices, maternal education, and employment were significantly associated with certain BF practices. The findings support continued efforts to implement WHO's baby-friendly initiative in more hospitals in Abu Dhabi and also emphasize the importance of early and continuous antenatal education. Emirati mothers should be prioritized in these efforts as their BF practices need more attention. As maternal employment negatively influences breastfeeding duration, supportive measures such as extended maternity leave, designated expressing facilities in the workplace, and shorter working hours are crucial to promote continued breastfeeding among employed mothers.
尽管全球和阿联酋本国都在努力，但阿联酋的母乳喂养率仍未达到理想水平。本研究调查了社会人口因素、围产期特征以及医院产科实践与阿联酋母乳喂养结果之间的关联。在这项横断面研究中，1815名有2岁以下子女的参与母亲回答了与社会经济状况、医院实践和母乳喂养相关的结构化问题。多变量分析表明，非阿联酋国籍和顺产分别与更高的开始母乳喂养率（调整后比值比[AOR]=6.19，95%置信区间[CI]为1.96 - 19.54；AOR = 2.65，95%CI为1.35 - 5.21）、及时开始母乳喂养（AOR分别为0.48，95%CI为0.35 - 0.66）、更长的母乳喂养持续时间（AOR分别为1.55，95%CI为1.05 - 2.27；AOR = 1.45，95%CI为1.08 - 1.93）以及更长的纯母乳喂养持续时间（AOR分别为1.50，95%CI为1.06 - 2.11；AOR = 1.35，95%CI为1.03 - 1.78）显著相关。此外，胎次、医院实践、母亲教育程度和就业情况与某些母乳喂养行为也显著相关。研究结果支持在阿布扎比更多医院继续努力实施世界卫生组织的爱婴医院倡议，同时强调早期和持续产前教育的重要性。在这些努力中应优先考虑阿联酋母亲，因为她们的母乳喂养行为需要更多关注。由于母亲就业会对母乳喂养持续时间产生负面影响，延长产假、在工作场所设置专门的吸奶设施以及缩短工作时间等支持措施对于促进在职母亲持续母乳喂养至关重要。
