Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and its Associated Factors among Mothers with Children Aged 6-23 Months in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Lecturer, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia

2 Lecturer, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background & aim: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is an essential need for the development and survival of the neonates, particularly in low-income countries. Therefore, the purpose of this survey was to determine the prevalence of EBF practice and its associated factors among mothers with children of 6-23 months in Dire Dawa Administration, eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 704 participants in 15 kebeles in the Dire Dawa Administration using multistage sampling in 2018. The data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with EBF.
Results: The magnitude of EBF practice was 81.1% (95% CI: 78.0-83.8). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the odds of EBF practice were significantly higher among unemployed mothers (AOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.17-3.20), antenatal care (ANC) users (AOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.05-2.72), as well as the young mothers within the age ranges of 15-25 (AOR: 4.41; 95% CI: 1.90-10.20) and 26-35 (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.12-4.18) years. However, the subjects with bottle-feeding practice had lower odds (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35-0.87), compared to those reported with EBF practice.
Conclusion: The magnitude of EBF practice was almost as high as the recommended level. The unemployment status, ANC visit, maternal age, and bottle-feeding practice were the factors associated with EBF. Therefore, employed mothers should be provided with a special room in their workplace to breastfeed their children, daycare facilities, and/or six-month maternity leave. Also, healthcare workers should give attention to the encouragement of mothers to receive ANC. 

Keywords


Introduction


    Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a matter of concern and an unfinished agenda both in developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined EBF asfeeding neonates only on breast milk, directly from the breast or expressed, except for drops or syrups containing vitamins, mineral supplements, or medicine. The EBF is the most important intervention for optimal neonatal development and survival. It also has a more potential impact on the reduction of child mortality than any other preventive interventions (1, 2, 3).

    Optimal breastfeeding has a crucial role in maintaining and promoting the growth, health, and survival status of the newborns. It also improves school achievement and health of mothers and their children (3, 4). International organizations, such as the WHO and United Nations Children's Fund, have recommended EBF for the first 6 months of life and then with complementary foods to help neonates achieve optimal growth and development (4, 5), increase their intelligence quotient score, and boost their adult learning (6).

    Although the benefit of EBF is widely promoted worldwide, only 37% of the newborns are provided with EBF in the first 6 months of life in developing countries (3, 4). The EBF is believed to reduce the neonatal mortality rate by 13% (7, 8); however, currently, early weaning and mixed feeding in the first 6 months of life result in 1.4 million deaths among the children of under 5 years of age (9). Moreover, according to the evidence, it was shown that non-EBF practices account for 55% and 53% of diarrheal and acute respiratory-related mortalities, respectively (10).

     However, EBF has an essential impact on the optimal health, development, and survival of the neonates. It is also associated with a reduction of risk factors of early childhood diseases and conditions, such as respiratory tract infection, otitis media, diarrhea, stunted development, and obesity (6, 7, 11). Moreover, breastfeeding is one of the top interventions for the reduction of mortality under 5 years of age. To achieve the full effect of breastfeeding, it should continue up to the age of 2 years (11).

    Different studies carried out in many settings indicated various factors. Maternal age and educational status (12-16), economic condition (14, 17, 18), antenatal and postnatal care counseling (14,16,17,19-23), maternal occupational status (11), spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (24), poor feeding, inadequate support (25), and facility-based delivery (19) were considered the associated factors of EBF practice. Moreover, based on the literature, it was shown that there have been wide variations in the magnitude of EBF, for example, 29.3% and 81.1% in Addis Ababa (21) and Dubti (23), Ethiopia, respectively. Furthermore, there are inconsistencies in the factors associated with EBF in many developing countries, including Ethiopia, indicating that EBF is dependent on the local sociocultural behaviors of the community.

    The advantages of EBF as the backbone of child nutrition, as well as the prevention of child morbidity and mortality, have been recognized and promoted in multiple studies. For example, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health planned to increase the magnitude of EBF for the first 6 months to 70% in 2015, as one of the important strategies for the improvement of child health (26). However, only 58% of the neonates had EBF in 2016, as indicated in the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) (27). Furthermore, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health has been struggling to reduce the burden of undernutrition through the early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and EBF for the first 6 months, followed by adequate complementary feeding (28).

    The practice of EBF has been reported with a great number of benefits for mothers and neonates. However, the level of EBF practice, particularly in developing countries, including Ethiopia, continues to be suboptimal, and the effective factors have varied according to the results of previous studies. This may be depending on sociocultural and other related conditions. Therefore, identifying the magnitude of EBF practice and its effective factors are important in designing and carrying out successful interventions in the local context. As a result, the main purpose of this survey was to determine the prevalence of EBF practice and its associated factors among mothers with the neonates of 6-23 months in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods

    This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the magnitude and associated factors of EBF practice among mothers with the neonates of 6-23 months within February 1 to 30, 2018. The present study was carried out in the eastern part of Ethiopia, Dire Dawa, located 515 km from Addis Ababa as the capital of Ethiopia. According to the 2007 Ethiopian demographic census, the population of Dire Dawa is 341,834. The Dire Dawa Administration has reached 100% access to primary healthcare in terms of geographic distribution. Dire Dawa has 6 hospitals, 15 health centers, and higher than 40 health posts. The administration is divided into 9 urban and 38 rural kebeles (i.e., smallest administration units) (29).

    The sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula with a 95% CI, 5% margin of error, and 32.1% prevalence of appropriate neonatal feeding (30). Multistage sampling was employed in this study. A design effect of 2 was considered and accounted for 5% of the nonresponse. Therefore, the final sample size was estimated at 704 mothers with the newborns of 6-23 months.

    In this study, simple random sampling was used to select 15 kebeles out of a total of 45 kebeles in the administration. Afterward, the list of mothers with the neonates of 6-23 months for each of the selected kebeles was obtained from the health extension workers’ registry. We allocated the sample size to each of the kebeles proportional to the number of its mothers with the newborns of 6-23 months. Finally, mother-child pairs were selected from the list using simple random sampling.

     The data were collected from the mothers using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted to the WHO standardized questionnaire for Infant and Young Child Feeding measurement practices (31). The questionnaire was pretested, translated into local languages (i.e., Amharic and Afan Oromo), and back to English for consistency. It contained the variables related to socioeconomic characteristics, health services, as well as maternal and neonatal health conditions. The data collectors and supervisors were trained for 2 days before fieldwork. Furthermore, timely supervision was carried out by the investigators and supervisors.

    The data were cleaned, entered into EpiData software (version 3.1), and then exported and analyzed using SPSS software (version 25). Univariate analysis was utilized to describe the frequency distribution of each variable. Bivariate analysis was used to estimate the association of EBF practice with maternal and neonatal characteristics. The covariates with a p-value of 0.25 or less were retained for multivariate analysis. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit was used to assess the fulfillment of necessary assumptions for the application of multiple logistic regression. A multivariable logistic regression model, using AOR with a 95% CI, was developed to incorporate both maternal and child characteristics selected in the bivariate analyses using stepwise regression. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Health Research Ethics Review Committee of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dire Dawa University (Ref. No. DDU/RTI/1851/2018). Then, a support letter was obtained from the college to the respective district administration. Afterward, a permission letter was obtained from the administration. During the data collection, each respondent was informed about the aim, benefit, and risk of the study. Subsequently, an informed, voluntary, written, and signed consent was obtained from each participant before the initiation of the data collection. To ensure confidentiality, the name and other identifiers of the mothers were not recorded on the data collection tools.

Results

Parental sociodemographic characteristics

    All the mothers (n=704) participated in this study, with a response rate of 100%. In this study, 493 (70.0%) mothers were 26-35 years old, and the mean age of the participants was 28.97±4.75 years. Out of all the mothers and their partners, 41.5% (n=292) and 47.9% (n=337) of the mothers and husbands had primary education, respectively. The majority (n=649; 92.2%) of the subjects were married, and 438 (62.2%) participants were urban residents. In terms of maternal occupational status, 246 (34.9%) mothers were employed, and 517 (73.4%) participants had under 5-year children (Table 1).

Prenatal and obstetric characteristics

    Almost all (n=689; 97.9%) of the neonates were delivered through a singleton birth, and 678 (96.3%) newborns were born at health facilities. Furthermore, 547 (77.7%) neonates were delivered through SVD. Many of the respondents received at list one antenatal care (ANC) visit. Moreover, 519 (73.7%) and 493 (70.0%) subjects utilized postnatal care. In addition, one-fourth (n=185; 26.3%) of the mothers reported that they had a birth interval of less than 24 months (Table 2).

Neonatal feeding characteristics

    About half (n=354; 50.3%) of the neonates were male, and 330 (46.9%) newborns were 6-12 months, with a mean age of 13.46±5.34 months. Regarding complementary feeding, 487 (69.2%) neonates were reported with complementary feeding starting at 6 months, and 183 (26.0%) newborns had bottle-feeding. Moreover, less than half (n=324; 46.0%) of the

neonates had a growth monitoring card as presented in Table 3.

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding

    Almost four-fifth (81.1%) of the neonates were exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life (95% CI: 78.0-83.8) as illustrated

in Figure 1. In this study, most (n=617; 87.6%) of the newborns initiated breastfeeding in the first hour of life.

Associated factors with exclusive breastfeeding

    In the multivariate logistic analysis, unemployment status, ANC utilization, maternal

age, and bottle-feeding practice were independently associated with EBF practice. The odds of EBF practice were 1.93 times higher among the unemployed mothers, compared to those reported for the employed subjects (AOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.17-3.20). The mothers of the neonates who received ANC were reported with the higher odds of practicing EBF as 1.7 times for the first 6 months, compared to those of their counterparts (AOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.05-2.72).

    Furthermore, the odds of practicing EBF was significantly higher among the younger mothers (AOR: 4.41; 95% CI: 1.90-10.20; age range: 15-25 years) in comparison to those reported for the older mothers (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.12-4.18; age range: 26-35 years). Moreover, the

mothers who practiced bottle-feeding had the lower odds of EBF practice for the first 6 months than those who were reported with breastfeeding practice (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35-0.87) (Table 4).

Discussion

    The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of EBF practice for the first 6 months of a neonate’s life among the mothers with newborns of 6-23 months in Dire Dawa. The study design and sampling technique employed in the present study were scientific. In addition, appropriate statistical analysis were used in this study. The prevalence of EBF practice was 81.1% (95% CI: 78.0-83.8). This finding is nearly similar to other different findings in Ethiopia (i.e., 81.1%, 74%, and 74.1% in Afar, Amhara, as well as in Tigray and Hawassa, respectively) (23, 32, 33, 34).

    However, the prevalence of EBF practice is higher than the findings of a national study, in which the rate of EBF practice was 58% in the EDHS in 2016. Furthermore, other reported rates are 59.3% and 64.8% in a systematic review in Ethiopia and other studies in southern Ethiopia, respectively (19, 27, 35). The aforementioned discrepancy might be due to the recent multisectoral collaborations by the Ministry of Health, Dire Dawa Administration Health Bureau, and nongovernmental organizations regarding the improvement of child nutrition.

    Moreover, the above-mentioned national survey incorporated the participants of hard-to-reach areas and residents of pastoral communities with less access to healthcare services. This might affect or limit the awareness of the benefits of EBF. However, these findings were obtained from the areas with 100% access to health services, and the majority of the subjects were urban residents, which might have resulted in the increased awareness of EBF practice. Furthermore, it might be related to study time and availability of resources in terms of EBF practice.

    Maternal occupational status, ANC utilization, maternal age, and bottle-feeding practice were independently associated with EBF practice. Accordingly, the odds of EBF were 1.93 times higher among the unemployed subjects than those reported for the employed mothers. This finding is in line with the results of multiple studies in developing countries, including Ethiopia (13, 14, 20, 24, 32, 36).

    Employed mothers had limited time to exclusively breastfeed their neonates. For example, in Ethiopia, mothers have maternity leave only for 4 months, which is less than the recommended time for the practice of EBF. They also lack convenient locations to breastfeed their newborns in their workplace. However, a study conducted in Bangladesh reported that employed mothers were more likely to practice EBF. The difference might be due to the variations in the establishment of neonatal lactating locations in the workplaces in Ethiopia and Bangladesh (37).

    In the present study, the use of ANC counseling and demonstration of breastfeeding techniques had significant impacts on the practice of EBF. The utilization of ANC services significantly increased the practice of EBF among the participants in the current study. The odds of practicing EBF in the first 6 months among the mothers who received ANC services were 1.7 times (nearly two-fold) more likely than their counterparts. This finding is consistent with the results of several similar studies carried out in Ethiopia (14, 19, 20), Ghana (21), Nigeria (17), and sub-Saharan Africa (i.e., a systematic review) (13). This might be due to psychological support and increased perception of breastfeeding importance through early counseling and timely support for practicing appropriate EBF. In addition, the information may increase the knowledge and attitudinal changes regarding neonatal feeding practice, as well as the nutritional benefits of breast milk for the health of mothers and newborns.

    Furthermore, in the present study, the odds of EBF practice were significantly higher among the younger mothers (AOR: 4.41; 95% CI: 1.90-10.20; age range: 15-25 years) than those reported for the older subjects (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.12-4.18; age range: 26-35 years). This might be due to the fact that younger women are highly eager and more willing to implement the information received from various sources about the importance of EBF practice. Young women might love their neonates more than older mothers as argued by Earsido (33, 15).

    In addition, the findings of the current study indicated that the women who practiced bottle-feeding had the lower odds of EBF practice in the first 6 months, compared to those reported for their counterparts, significantly associated with EBF practice. This finding is in line with the results of studies carried out in Brazil, Pakistan, and China, in which bottle-feeding was a serious factor for discontinuing EBF (38-40). There might be the misperception of a neonate’s crying as a need for bottle-feeding that reduce breast-sucking leading to the lower the production of breast milk (41).

There were some limitations in the present study. Firstly, the age of the neonates was within 6 to 23 months which was considered a long duration and might be indicative of recall bias on the mothers’ side. In addition, the current study was cross-sectional which is limited to establish a cause-effect relationship between the dependent and independent variables.

Conclusion

    In summary, the magnitude of EBF practice was relatively high. Unemployed status, ANC utilization, younger maternal age, and bottle-feeding practice were identified as statistically significant associated factors with EBF practice. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare workers, health task force, and concerned bodies give due attention and work on the encouragement of pregnant women to receive ANC services, educate the community about the benefits of EBF and impact of bottle-feeding to increase the practice, and reach the WHO recommended levels. Moreover, a special breastfeeding place for working mothers, daycare facilities, and at least six-month maternity leave should be provided to improve EBF practice, as well as maternal and neonatal health.

Acknowledgements

    The authors would like to extend their gratitude to Dire Dawa University for funding this study and participants, data collectors, kebele administrations, and health extension workers without whom conducting this study would have not been possible.

Conflicts of interest

Authors declared no conflicts of interest.

1. World Health Organization. Global nutrition targets 2025: breastfeeding policy brief. Available at: URL: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/149022/1/WHO_NMH_NHD_14.7_eng.pdf; 2014.
2.   Jones G, Steketee RW, Black RE, Bhutta ZA, Morris SS. How many child deaths can we prevent this year? The Lancet. 2003; 362(9377):65-71. 
3.   Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. Breastfeeding 1 Breastfeeding in the 21st century : epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The Lancet. 2016; 387(10017):475-490.
4.   World Health Organization. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2003. P. 1-30.
5.   World Health Organization. Complementary feeding: report of the global consultation summary of guiding principles. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2003. P. 253-262.
6.   Hansen K. Breastfeeding: a smart investment in people and in economies. The Lancet. 2016; 387(10017):416.
7.   Chung M, Raman G, Chew P, Magula N, Trikalinos T, Lau J. Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment. 2007; 153(153):1-86.
8.   Greenwood B. A global action plan for the prevention and control of pneumonia. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2008; 86:322-A.
9.   Black MM, Walker SP, Wachs TD, Ulkuer N, Meeks Gardner J. Maternal and child undernutrition 4 maternal and child undernutrition: effective action at national level. Commentary. The Lancet. 2008; 371(9611):243-260.
10. World Health Organization. USAID health-relatedresearch and development progress report an update of the 2011–2015. Washington, DC: Health Research Strategy; 2014. P. 33.
11. Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The Lancet. 2016; 387(10017):475-490.
12. Paramashanti BA. Timely initiation of breastfeeding is associated with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2016; 25:S52.  
13. Yalçin SS, Berde AS, Yalçin S. Determinants of exclusive breast feeding in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel approach. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 2016; 30(5):439-449.
14. Asemahagn MA. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers in azezo district, northwest Ethiopia. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2016; 11(1):22.  
15. Asare BY, Preko JV, Baafi D, Dwumfour-Asare B. Breastfeeding practices and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in a cross-sectional study at a child welfare clinic in Tema Manhean, Ghana. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2018; 13(1):12. 
16. Lauria L, Spinelli A, Grandolfo M. Prevalence of breastfeeding in Italy: a population based follow-up study. Annali Dell'Istituto Superiore Di Sanita. 2016; 52(3):457-461.
17. Agho KE, Dibley MJ, Odiase JI, Ogbonmwan SM. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2011; 11(1):2-9.
18. Alemayehu T, Haidar J, Habte D. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practices in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development. 2009; 23(1):12-18.
19. Alebel A, Tesma C, Temesgen B, Ferede A, Kibret GD. Exclusive breastfeeding practice in Ethiopia and its association with antenatal care and institutional delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2018; 13(1):31-42.
20. Mekuria G, Edris M. Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Debre Markos, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2015; 10(1):1-7.
21. Shifraw T, Worku A, Berhane Y. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices of urban women in Addis Ababa public health centers, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2015; 10(1):22-31.
22. Maternal and Child Health Directorate Federal Ministry of Health. National strategy for newborn and child survival in Ethiopia. Available at: URL: https://www.healthynewbornnetwork.org/hnn-content/uploads/nationalstrategy-for-newborn and-child-survival-in-Ethiopia-201516-201920.pdf; 2015.
23. Liben ML, Gemechu YB, Adugnew M, Asrade A, Adamie B, Gebremedin E, et al. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers in dubti town, Afar regional state, northeast Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2016; 11(1):4-10.
24. Adugna B, Tadele H, Reta F, Berhan Y. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in infants less than six months of age in Hawassa, an urban setting, Ethiopia. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2017; 12(1):45-56.
25. Agunbiade OM, Ogunleye OV. Constraints to exclusive breastfeeding practice among breastfeeding mothers in Southwest Nigeria: Implications for scaling up. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2012; 7(1):5-15.
26. World Health Organization. Success factors for women’s and children’s health: Ethiopia. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015.
27. Demographic IE. Health survey 2016: key indicators report. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA. Ethiopia: Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey; 2016.  
28. World Health Organization. UNICEF : annual report 2013: Ethiopia national nutrition programme (NNP). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013.
29. Population Census Commission. The 2007 population and housing census of Ethiopia Dire Dawa statistical. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Central Statistical Agency; 2007.
30. Yonas F, Asnakew M, Wondafrash M, Abdulahi M. Infant, and young child feeding practice status and associated factors among mothers of under 24-month-old children in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia Region. Open Access Library Journal. 2015; 39(2):1-15.
31. World Health Organisation. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation; 2010. P. 1-19.
32. Hunegnaw MT, Gezie LD, Teferra AS. Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Gozamin district, northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2017; 12(1):30-38.
33. Earsido A, Abebe W, Dereje N. Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practices among infants in Hossana Town, Southern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. EC Gynaecology. 2017; 4(2017):69-79. 
34. Gejo NG, Weldearegay HG, Wtinsaie KT, Mekango DE, Woldemichael ES, Buda AS, et al. Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among HIV positive mothers in Northern Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2019; 14(1):e0210782.
35. Azeze GA, Gelaw KA, Gebeyehu NA, Gesese MM, Mokonnon TM. Exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among mothers in Boditi Town, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2018: a community-based cross-sectional study. International Journal of Pediatrics. 2019; 2019:1-11.
36. Gebrie YF, Dessie TM, Jemberie NF. Logistic regression analysis of exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers in Amanuel town, Northwest, Ethiopia. American Journal of Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery. 2018; 3(2):13-19.
37. Akter S, Rahman MM. The determinants of early cessation of breastfeeding in Bangladesh. World Health and Population. 2009; 11(4):5-12.
38. Batista CL, Ribeiro VS, Maria do Desterro SB, Rodrigues VP. Association between pacifier use and bottle‐feeding and unfavorable behaviors during breastfeeding. Jornal de Pediatria. 2018; 94(6):596-601.  
39. Sabin A, Manzur F, Adil S. Exclusive breastfeeding practices in working women of Pakistan: a cross-sectional study. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2017; 33(5):1148-1155.
40. Wu X, Gao X, Sha T, Zeng G, Liu S, Li L, et al. Modifiable individual factors associated with breastfeeding: a cohort study in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(5):820.
41. Rigotti RR, de Oliveira MIC, Boccolini CS. Association between the use of a baby’s bottle and pacifier and the absence of breastfeeding in the second six months of life. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva. 2015; 20(4):1235-1244.