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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2008 May 1;99(3):212–215. [Article in French] doi: 10.1007/BF03405476

Les facteurs facilitant et contraignant l’allaitement maternel en Estrie (Québec)

Linda Bell 112,✉, Marie Lacombe 212, Éric Yergeau 112, Jean-Marie Moutquin 112, Denise St-Cyr Tribble 112, Francine Royer 312, Marie-Pierre Garant 412
PMCID: PMC6975855  PMID: 18615944

Abstract

Objective

To document breastfeeding rates from birth to six months as well as the factors facilitating and constraining the continuation of breastfeeding in women in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and to compare these to the results obtained in 1999.

Method

Postal questionnaire sent to 374 mothers who had breastfed and analysis of archival data.

Results

Breastfeeding rates were 86.3% at birth and 75% at discharge from hospital in all mothers who gave birth to a child in 2004–2005. Breastfeeding rates in the 272 mothers who answered the questionnaire were reported to be 67.3% and 47.4% at three and six months respectively. Results indicate that 8.9% of infants were still receiving breast milk exclusively after the third month. However, 27.9% of the mothers had stopped breastfeeding during the infant’s first week. Support from the nurses was the primary factor facilitating breastfeeding. The main reasons the mothers gave for stopping breastfeeding were problems with breastfeeding and fatigue.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding rates in this area of Quebec have increased significantly in the past five years and are comparable with those in the rest of Canada. Breastfeeding exclusively up to six months is rare, and initiatives to support breastfeeding mothers in the hospital and in the community are having success.

Key words: Breast feeding, breast feeding exclusive, infant nutrition

Footnotes

Remerciements: Cette étude a été réalisée grâce à une subvention conjointe du Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux et de l’Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Estrie dans le cadre du Programme de subventions en santé publique. Nous tenons également à remercier madame Marielle Larocque de La Ligue La Leche pour la promotion et la coordination du projet.

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