Top

International Breastfeeding Journal

Published in:

Open Access 01-08-2012 | Commentary

Questioning current definitions for breastfeeding research

Authors: Joy Noel-Weiss, Sonya Boersma, Sonya Kujawa-Myles

Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

The aim of this paper is to examine how breastfeeding is defined for research purposes.

Discussion

Current breastfeeding definitions focus on the amount of breast milk an infant receives and do not encompass how a baby is fed. Our concerns are that key variables are not measured when mothers are pumping or expressing their milk and bottle feeding. It seems the breastfeeding relationship is not considered in the definition.

Conclusion

While we appreciate the implications of full versus partial breastfeeding in research studies, we also believe the method of infant feeding to be significant. Researchers should develop new definitions.

World Health Organization: Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices: conclusions of a consensus meeting held 6–8 November 2007 in Washington D.C. 2008, Geneva, Switzerland: WHO,http://www.emro.who.int/cah/pdf/IYCF-Indicators-2007.pdf,

Labbok MH, Krasovec K: Toward a consistency in breastfeeding definition. Stud Fam Plan. 1990, 21: 226-30. 10.2307/1966617.CrossRef

Health Canada: Duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Canada: Key Statistics and Graphics (2007-2008). 2011, Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada,http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/nutrition/commun/prenatal/duration-duree-eng.php#share,

Breastfeeding Committee of Canada: Breastfeeding definitions and data collection periods. 2006, Ottawa, Canada: The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada,http://breastfeedingcanada.ca/documents/BCC_Breastfeeding_Def_and_Algorithms_Jan_06.pdf,

World Health Organization: Exclusive breastfeeding. 2011, Geneva, Switzerland: WHO,http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/index.html,

Health Canada: Exclusive breastfeeding duration: 2004 Health Canada recommendation. 2008, Ottawa, Canada: pxlHealth Canada,http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/infant-nourisson/excl_bf_dur-dur_am_excl-eng.php,

Greiner T: The concept of weaning: definitions and their implications [published erratum appears in JHL 2006 12:220]. J Hum Lact. 1996, 12: 123-128. 10.1177/089033449601200216.CrossRefPubMed

Dabritz HA, Hinton BG, Babb J: Maternal hospital experiences associated with breastfeeding at 6 months in a northern California county. J Hum Lact. 2010, 26: 274-85. 10.1177/0890334410362222.CrossRefPubMed

Lamontagne C, Hamelin AM, St Pierre M: An assessment of the impact of breastfeeding clinic attendance on women's breastfeeding experiences. J Hum Lact. 2009, 25: 42-53. 10.1177/0890334408324451.CrossRefPubMed

10.

McQueen KA, Dennis C-L, Stremler R, Norman CD: A pilot randomized controlled trial of a breastfeeding self-efficacy intervention with primiparous mothers. JOGNN. 2011, 40: 35-46. 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2010.01210.x.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Xu F, Binns C, Zhang H, Yang G, Zhao Y: Paternal smoking and breastfeeding in Xinjiang, PR China. J Hum Lact. 2010, 26: 242-7. 10.1177/0890334410369480.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Aarts C, Kylberg E, Hornell A, Hofvander Y, Gebre-Medhin M, Greiner T: How exclusive is exclusive breastfeeding? A comparison of data since birth with current status data. Int J Epidemiol. 2000, 29: 1041-1046. 10.1093/ije/29.6.1041.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Thulier D: A call for clarity in infant breast and bottle-feeding definitions for research. JOGNN. 2010, 39: 627-634. 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2010.01197.x.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Hector DJ: Complexities and subtleties in the measurement and reporting of breastfeeding practices. Int Breastfeed J. 2009, 6: 5-

15.

Agampodi SB, Agampodi TC, de Silva A: Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka: problems of interpretation of reported rates. Int Breastfeed J. 2009, 4: 14-10.1186/1746-4358-4-14.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed

16.

Shantakumar S, Terry MB, Teitelbaum SL, Britton JA, Millikan RC, Moorman PG: Reproductive factors and breast cancer risk among older women. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007, 102: 365-374. 10.1007/s10549-006-9343-4.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Jackson KM, Nazar AM: Breastfeeding, the immune response, and long-term health. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2006, 106: 203-207.PubMed

18.

Labbok MH, Clark D, Goldman AS: Breastfeeding: maintaining an irreplaceable immunological resource. Nat Rev Immunol. 2004, 4: 565-572. 10.1038/nri1393.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Oddy WH, Sly PD, de Klerk NH, Landau LI, Kendall GE: Breast feeding and respiratory morbidity in infancy: A birth cohort study. Arch Dis Child. 2003, 88: 224-228. 10.1136/adc.88.3.224.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed

20.

Thorley V: The dilemma of breastmilk feeding. Breastfeed Rev. 2011, 19: 5-7.PubMed

21.

Noel-Weiss J, Rupp A, Cragg B, Bassett V, Woodend K: Randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of prenatal breastfeeding workshop on maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding duration. JOGNN. 2006, 35: 616-624. 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00077.x.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Dennis C-L: Theoretical underpinnings of breastfeeding confidence: a self-efficacy framework. J Hum Lact. 1999, 15: 195-201. 10.1177/089033449901500303.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Riskin A, Almog M, Peri R, Halasz K, Srugo I, Kessel A: Changes in immunomodulatory constituents of human milk in response to active infection in the nursing infant. Pediatr Res. 2012, 71 (2): 220-225. 10.1038/pr.2011.34.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Questioning current definitions for breastfeeding research
Authors: Joy Noel-Weiss
Sonya Boersma
Sonya Kujawa-Myles
Publication date: 01-08-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4358
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-7-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Questioning current definitions for breastfeeding research

Abstract

Background

Discussion

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Discussion

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

Lactation and cardiovascular risk factors in mothers in a population-based study: the HUNT-study

Global trends in exclusive breastfeeding

Actual exclusive breastfeeding rates and determinants among a cohort of children living in Gampaha district Sri Lanka: A prospective observational study

Enquiry analysis and user opinion of the Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline: a prospective study

Uneven chances of breastfeeding in Spain

Antenatal breast expression in women with diabetes: outcomes from a retrospective cohort study