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Influence of Health Literacy on Maintenance of Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6 Months Postpartum: A Multicentre Study

Author

Listed:
  • María Jesús Valero-Chillerón

    (Department of Nursing, Universitat Jaume I, Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat, 12071 Castelló, Spain)

  • Desirée Mena-Tudela

    (Department of Nursing, Universitat Jaume I, Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat, 12071 Castelló, Spain)

  • Águeda Cervera-Gasch

    (Department of Nursing, Universitat Jaume I, Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat, 12071 Castelló, Spain)

  • Víctor Manuel González-Chordá

    (Department of Nursing, Universitat Jaume I, Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat, 12071 Castelló, Spain)

  • Francisco Javier Soriano-Vidal

    (Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Luis Alcanyis, 46819 Xàtiva, Spain
    Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO-SP), 46020 Valencia, Spain)

  • José Antonio Quesada

    (Department of Clinical Medicine, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain)

  • Enrique Castro-Sánchez

    (Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance at Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
    College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London, Brentford TW8 9GA, UK)

  • Rafael Vila-Candel

    (Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO-SP), 46020 Valencia, Spain
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Universitario de la Ribera, 46600 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

Background: International organizations recommend initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of life and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. However, worldwide rates of exclusive breastfeeding for 6-month-old infants is far from meeting the goal proposed by the World Health Organization, which is to reach a minimum of 50% of infants. Education is one of the factors affecting the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, and incidentally, it is also related to lower health literacy. This study explored the influence of health literacy on maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum. Methods: A longitudinal multicenter study with 343 women were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020. The first questionnaire was held during the puerperium (24–48 h) with mothers practicing exclusive breastfeeding, with whom 6-month postpartum breastfeeding follow-up was performed. Socio-demographic, clinical and obstetric variables were collected. Breastfeeding efficiency was assessed using the LATCH breastfeeding assessment tool. The health literacy level was evaluated by the Newest Vital Sign screening tool. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to detect protective factors for early exclusive breastfeeding cessation. Results: One third of the women continued exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum. Approximately half the participants had a low or inadequate health literacy level. An adequate health literacy level, a high LATCH breastfeeding assessment tool score (>9 points) and being married were the protective factors against exclusive breastfeeding cessation at 6 months postpartum. Conclusion: Health literacy levels are closely related to maintaining exclusive breastfeeding and act as a protective factor against early cessation. A specific instrument is needed to measure the lack of “literacy in breastfeeding”, in order to verify the relationship between health literacy and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding.

Suggested Citation

  • María Jesús Valero-Chillerón & Desirée Mena-Tudela & Águeda Cervera-Gasch & Víctor Manuel González-Chordá & Francisco Javier Soriano-Vidal & José Antonio Quesada & Enrique Castro-Sánchez & Rafael Vila, 2022. "Influence of Health Literacy on Maintenance of Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6 Months Postpartum: A Multicentre Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5411-:d:805205
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frédéric Dutheil & Grégory Méchin & Philippe Vorilhon & Amanda C. Benson & Anne Bottet & Maëlys Clinchamps & Chloé Barasinski & Valentin Navel, 2021. "Breastfeeding after Returning to Work: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Ana Cristina Cabellos-García & Enrique Castro-Sánchez & Antonio Martínez-Sabater & Miguel Ángel Díaz-Herrera & Ana Ocaña-Ortiz & Raúl Juárez-Vela & Vicente Gea-Caballero, 2020. "Relationship between Determinants of Health, Equity, and Dimensions of Health Literacy in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Rafael Vila-Candel & Francisco Miguel Martínez-Arnau & Juan María de la Cámara-de las Heras & Enrique Castro-Sánchez & Pilar Pérez-Ros, 2020. "Interventions to Improve Health among Reproductive-Age Women of Low Health Literacy: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Carolina Lechosa-Muñiz & María Paz-Zulueta & María Sáez de Adana Herrero & Elsa Cornejo del Rio & Sonia Mateo Sota & Javier Llorca & María J. Cabero-Perez, 2020. "Health Care Costs Associated to Type of Feeding in the First Year of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-9, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. María Jesús Valero-Chillerón & Rafael Vila-Candel & Desirée Mena-Tudela & Francisco Javier Soriano-Vidal & Víctor M. González-Chordá & Laura Andreu-Pejo & Aloma Antolí-Forner & Lledó Durán-García & Mi, 2023. "Development and Validation of the Breastfeeding Literacy Assessment Instrument (BLAI) for Obstetric Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.

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