Intention to Exclusively Breastfeed Is Associated with Lower Rates of Cesarean Section for Nonmedical Reasons in a Cohort of Mothers in Vietnam.

Breastfeeding brings benefits to both mothers and children in the short term and long term. Unnecessary cesarean sections can bring risks to both parties. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding intention and cesarean delivery. We analyzed data collected from 554 single mothers who delivered in Dong Anh General District Hospital or Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Vietnam, in 2020-2021. The relationship between exclusive breastfeeding intention and cesarean delivery for nonmedical reasons was adjusted for maternal education, maternal age, parity, history of fetal loss, having at least eight antenatal contacts, hospital of delivery, child sex, and birth weight. Antenatally, 34.8% (184/529) of mothers intended to breastfeed exclusively until 6 months and 30.8% (84/274) underwent cesarean section for a nonmedical reason. After adjusting for other factors, mothers who intended to breastfeed exclusively until 6 months were less likely to undergo cesarean delivery for nonmedical reasons (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.96, p = 0.034). This study adds to the growing evidence related to unnecessary cesarean sections and routine over-medicalization of normal birth in the urban areas of Vietnam. The association between breastfeeding intentions and a lower rate of cesarean section suggests that education on breastfeeding could be a useful intervention for reducing the rate of cesarean sections and improving maternal and child health.

Citation

Doan Thi Thuy Duong, Colin Binns, Andy Lee, Yun Zhao, Ngoc Minh Pham, Dinh Thi Phuong Hoa, Bui Thi Thu Ha. Intention to Exclusively Breastfeed Is Associated with Lower Rates of Cesarean Section for Nonmedical Reasons in a Cohort of Mothers in Vietnam. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022 Jan 13;19(2)

Mesh Tags

PMID: 35055705

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