DURATION AND CAUSES OF CESSATION OF BREAST FEEDING IN WORKING MOTHERS IN GHAZVIN, IRAN

Questionnaires were filled out during Summer 1988 from 259 working mothers'Who terminated breast feeding, and at least had a living child aged three years or younger. The purpose of the study was to determine the duration and the reasons of termination of breast feeding in these working women. An inverse correlation was found between the duration of breast feeding and the following parameters: The introduction of breast feeding for the first time after birth (p<.05) and the mother's ages at the first marriage, pregnancy and delivery, and also her age at last delivery (p<.0001, p<.002, p<.003 and p<.006 respectively). A positive correlation also was found between the duration of breast feeding and the age of introduction of supplementary feeding. The difference between the mean duration of breast feeding and the kind of first food given after birth was statistically significant (p<.02). Insufficient milk and work outside the home were the most common causes of termination of breast feeding among these working mothers.