Background: Several
studies in Palestine, including some performed in refugee camps, showed that
breastfeeding is a common practice, however, exclusive breastfeeding was
practiced less frequently. The social and cultural patterns in relation to
different types of infant feeding were not studied.
Objectives: This study
aimed to evaluate the association between mothers’ and infants’ sociodemographic
factors and breastfeeding patterns during the first 6 months of infant life.
Methods: This
cross-sectional study evaluated data of 690 clinic files from 3 refugee camps
in Nablus, Palestine in 2007. Maternal age, age at marriage, parity, mother’s
and father’s education, type of delivery and infant’s gender were studied in
relation to 3 types of breastfeeding: exclusive breastfeeding, partial
breastfeeding, and exclusive formula feeding in the first 6 months of life.
Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were applied for data analysis.
Results: A total of 69.7% of
infants aged 0–6 months were exclusively breastfed and only 14.3% were
exclusively formula fed. Older mothers at marriage (risk ratio [RR], 0.13; 95%
confidence interval [CI], 0.06–0.28), and cesarean birth (RR, 0.59; 95% CI,
0.41–0.81) were negatively associated with EBF.
Conclusion: Breastfeeding
educational and health promotion program and policy for EBF implemented by
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East) should continue with special attention to older mothers at marriage,
and to babies born by cesarean section.