Prevalence and Predictors of Infant Feeding Practices in Alberta, Western Canad

Despite the evidence supporting 6-month exclusive breastfeeding, few Canadian mothers follow the recommendations. The first study in this thesis evaluated predictors of 6-month exclusive breastfeeding among participants of Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study. The 6-month exclusive breastfeeding rate was 15.3%, and higher maternal education and multiparity increased the probability by 3.76 and 2.21 times, respectively (P<0.03). Women in the highest quartile of Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale score were 4.29 times more likely to breastfeed exclusively (p-trend<0.001). The second study was an ethnographic assessment of infant feeding experiences among Middle Eastern mothers in Canada. Five layers of influence emerged from focus groups among which religious beliefs were the strongest factors dismissing all negative influences on breastfeeding. However, cultural practices promoted pre-lacteal feeding and jeopardized breastfeeding exclusivity. Our findings suggest the necessity of developing culturally-sensitive programs targeting maternal attitudes and beliefs to promote infant feeding practices in Alberta.