Abstract:
Breastfeeding has various benefits for women and children. Early breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding form 0-6 months and continued breastfeeding for 2 years of age are recommended by the World Health Organization. Using a nationally representative sample of 4809 children aged 0-24 months from the latest data of the Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey of 2008, this thesis explored and analyzed the prevalence and determinants of early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding (0-6 months). In addition, it analyzed the determinants and duration of continued breastfeeding using the “current-status method”. Secondary data analyses were conducted to examine the strength of association between each of our outcomes of interest (early breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding from 0-6 months and breastfeeding discontinuation) and each of the independent variables. The independent variables included: women’s age, area of residence of women, marital status, parity, household economic status, women’s working status, women’s education, partner’s education, age, sex and birth weight of the babies, utilization of antenatal care clinics, and place and mode of childbirth. Descriptive analysis of mothers and children (aged 0-24 months) were conducted. Bivariate analysis was used to test the association between each independent variable and each of the outcomes of interest. In the bivariate analysis Chi-square test, logistic regression and Cox proportional models were used. Variables that are found significant at a 20percent level in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate level. In the multivariate analysis logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios as well as p-values, and 95percent confidence intervals were reported.The results of this study showed that 51.3percent of the children initiated early breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding for infants aged 0-6 months reached 84.1percent. The median duration of
Description:
Thesis. M.Sc. American University of Beirut. Department of Epidemiology and Population health, Faculty of Health Sciences 2015. W 4 A964b 2015
Advisor: Dr. Carla Makhlouf Obermeyer, Professor ; Committee members: Dr. Monique Shaaya, Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Population health, Faculty of Health Sciences; Dr. Monique Shaaya, Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Population health ; Dr. Tamar Kabakian Kasholian, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health ; Mr. Khalil Asmar, Instructor, Department of Epidemiology and Population health.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-89)