Paulo Augusto Ribeiro Neves|Aluísio J. D. Barros|Giovanna Gatica?Domínguez|Juliana dos Santos Vaz|Phillip Baker|Chessa Lutter
Maternal education and equity in breastfeeding: trends and patterns in 81 low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2019
Universidade Federal de Pelotas|Universidade Federal de Pelotas|Universidade Federal de Pelotas|Universidade Federal de Pelotas|Deakin University|RTI International
abstract background low middleincome countries lmics low levels formal maternal educational positively associated breastfeeding whereas reverse true among women higher levels formal education breastfeeding helped reduce health equity gaps rich poor children paper examines trends breastfeeding formula consumption maternal educational lmics nearly two decades methods used 319 nationally representative surveys 81 countries used definitions breastfeeding indicators categorized maternal education three categories none primary secondary higher grouped countries according world bank income groups unicef regions classifications trend analyses performed multilevel linear regression obtain average absolute annual changes percentage points results significant increases prevalence observed early initiation exclusive breastfeeding across education categories prominently women formal education early breastfeeding higher level educated women exclusive breastfeeding small decreases prevalence seen mostly women formal education continued breastfeeding 1 2 years among formula indicators formula consumption 6 23 months decreased significantly period women primary education analysis world regions demonstrated gains early exclusive breastfeeding almost universally distributed among education categories except middle east north africa decreased throughout education categories continued breastfeeding 1 2 years increased south asia latin america caribbean eastern europe central asia primary higher education categories declines occurred group formal education south asia nearly education categories middle east north africa decline steeper continued breastfeeding 2 years exceptions use formula higher among children women highest education level regions conclusions course study women formal education worsening breastfeeding indicators compared women primary secondary higher education