The maternal perception on paternal support: influence on the duration of breastfeeding

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Estudo de coorte prospectiva dos bebês nascidos na cidade de Pelotas entre setembro de 2002 e maio de 2003, com o objetivo de avaliar a percepção das mães quanto ao apoio paterno e sua influência na duração do aleitamento materno (AM). MÉTODOS: A população inicial do estudo foi de 2.741 bebês, sendo que uma amostra aleatória de 30% destes foi acompanhada no 1º, 3º e 6º meses, baseada em cálculo amostral com um nível de significância de 95% e poder estatístico de 80% para detectar risco relativo de 2,0. Foram realizadas análises univariada e multivariada, sendo que somente as variáveis com p<0,05 foram consideradas associadas ao desfecho de forma significante. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que no 1º mês aproximadamente 10% dos bebês não estavam em AM. A baixa escolaridade paterna e a falta de participação do pai na amamentação foram variáveis associadas ao desmame no 1º mês. No 3º mês, constatou-se forte associação entre o desmame e a falta de apoio paterno. O fato de a mãe não viver com o companheiro e a menor escolaridade paterna foram variáveis também associadas ao desfecho. Já no 6º mês, não foi encontrada associação entre variáveis paternas e AM. CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo pode servir de subsídio para futuras políticas públicas em saúde, como também para incentivo à inserção da figura paterna nas consultas pré-natais, na atenção ao parto e no puerpério.

pai; aleitamento materno; epidemiologia; desmame; lactentes

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The maternal perception on paternal support: influence on the duration of breastfeeding

La percepción de las madres sobre el apoyo paterno: influencia en la duración de la lactancia materna

Priscila Palma da Silva^I; Regina Bosembecker Silveira^II; Maria Laura W. Mascarenhas^II; Mirian Barcellos Silva^II; Cristina Correa Kaufmann^III; Elaine Pinto Albernaz^IV

Instituição: Universidade Católica de Pelotas (UCPel), Pelotas, RS, Brasil

^IMestre em Saúde e Comportamento pela UCPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil

^IIMestre em Saúde e Comportamento pela UCPel; Professora-Assistente da Escola de Medicina da UCPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil

^IIIDoutora em Saúde e Comportamento pela UCPel; Professora Adjunta da Faculdade de Nutrição da Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil

^IVDoutora em Epidemiologia pela Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Professora Adjunta do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento da Faculdade de Medicina da UCPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil

Correspondence

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: A cohort prospective study of newborns in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, between September 2002 and May 2003, which aims at evaluating the perception of mothers as to fatherly support and its influence in breastfeeding duration.

METHODS: The initial population included 2,741 babies, and a random and representative sample of 30% was followed-up on the first, third, and sixth months, with a significance level of 95% and statistical power of 80% to detect a relative risk of 2.0. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. Variables with p<0.05 were considered as significantly associated with the outcome.

RESULTS: In the first month, approximately 10% of infants were not breastfed. Low paternal schooling and lack of support during breastfeeding were associated with weaning in the first month. In the third month, a strong association between weaning and lack of paternal support was verified. The fact that the mother no longer lived with her partner and the number of years in school were also associated with the outcome. In the sixth month, no correlation was found between paternal variables and breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study could be useful as a reference to future public health policies as well as an incentive to insert the paternal figure in the prenatal, labor, and postdelivery care.

Key-words: father; breast feeding; epidemiology; weaning; infants.

RESUMEN

OBJETIVO: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de los bebés nacidos en la ciudad de Pelotas (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil), entre septiembre de 2002 y mayo de 2003, con el objetivo de evaluar la percepción de las madres respecto al apoyo paterno y su influencia en la duración de la lactancia materna (LM).

MÉTODOS: La población inicial del estudio fue de 2.741 bebés, siendo acompañada en el primero, tercero y sexto meses una muestra aleatoria y representativa de 30% de éstos, basada en cálculo muestral, con un nivel de significancia de 95% y poder estadístico de 80%, para detectar riesgo relativo de 2,0. Se realizaron análisis uni y multivariados, siendo que solamente las variables con p<0,05 fueron consideradas asociadas al desfecho de modo estadísticamente significante.

RESULTADOS: Se observó que, en el primer mes, un 10% de los bebés no estaban en LM. La baja escolaridad paterna y la falta de participación del padre en la amamantación fueron asociadas al destete en el primer mes. En el tercer mes, se constató fuerte asociación entre el destete y la falta de apoyo paterno. El hecho de que la madre no vive con el compañero y la menor escolaridad paterna fueron variables también asociadas al desenlace. Ya en el sexto mes, no se encontró asociación entre variables paternas y LM.

CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio puede servir de subsidio para futuras políticas públicas en salud, como también para incentivo a la inserción de la figura paterna en las consultas prenatales, en la atención al parto y en el puerperio.

Palabras clave: padre; lactancia materna; epidemiología; destete; lactantes.

Introduction

Increasing breastfeeding (BF) duration has been a constant concern because of the large body of scientific evidence that supports its importance⁽¹⁾. In Brazil, as well as all over the world, exclusive BF (EBF) rates and total BF duration are still beyond recommendations despite the increase in the last decades. Several factors have been associated with BF duration and exclusive BF, such as socioeconomic, demographic and cultural characteristics^(2-5), but few studies have investigated the participation of fathers in infant care and feeding.

The father's knowledge about BF benefits, his support, understanding and encouragement in making decisions together with the mother may be relevant factors at the time when the mother offers milk to their infant. In a review study, Bar-Yam and Darby⁽⁶⁾ found three positive aspects of the father's influence: the breastfeeding decision, assistance at first feeding, and duration of breastfeeding.

Similarly, Arora et al⁽⁷⁾ demonstrated, in a qualitative study, that 80% of the mothers reported that the father's support results in encouragement for breastfeeding. In a randomized clinical study, Susin and Giugliani⁽⁸⁾ found that 93.3% of the mothers interviewed would like to receive help from their partners during BF and that the inclusion of fathers in the intervention significantly reduced the risk of discontinuing EBF before six months of age.

The father's presence may be important for BF success, but few studies have been conducted to investigate it. This study evaluated the mother's perception of paternal support and participation and their effect on BF duration of infants born in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil.

Method

This longitudinal prospective cohort study, conducted in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil, was approved by the Ethics in Research Committee of Fundação de Apoio Universitário, and all mothers signed an informed consent term.

This study is part of a larger research project whose main purpose is to investigate BF rates and the factors involved in early weaning. Infants born from September 2002 to May 2003 and whose mother lived in the urban area of the city of Pelotas were included in the study if they had no serious contraindications to BF (such as severe malformation or mother with HIV infection). Sample size was calculated for a level of significance of 95%, statistical power of 80%, exposures ranging from 15 and 80%, estimated relative risk of 2.0, and an additional number of participants to compensate for possible losses and control for potentially confounding factors.

The study had two phases: perinatal screening, conducted in all maternity wards in the city of Pelotas to detect infants born during the study period; and follow-up of 30% of these infants, randomly selected, who were visited at home at one, three and six months after birth.

A standardized questionnaire was applied to all mothers to ensure consistent data collection. For the same purpose, interviewers followed a manual, the team was trained, and the questionnaires were reviewed every week. Before the study, the questionnaires were tested in a pilot study conducted in the São Francisco de Paula University Hospital, in Pelotas, Brazil. To evaluate the quality of data collection and its reliability, a second, summarized questionnaire was applied to a randomly selected group of 10% of the sample, and the results were compared using the kappa coefficient (0.94) for analysis of agreement.

Data collected were double entered into a module of the Epi-Info 6.0 software and then transferred for statistical analysis using the following system: calculation of variable frequencies and bivariate analysis between exposure factor and outcome, between exposure factor and other variables, and between outcome and other variables using a chi-square test. Variables for which p≤0.20 were included in multivariate analysis, and logistic regression was used to evaluate potential confounding factors.

Logistic regression followed the previously created hierarchical model (Figure 1), which compared variables and identified possible confounding factors. The variables for which p≤0.20 continued in the model to evaluate these associations.

According to the hierarchical model, the first level included the demographic (age and parents' ethnicity) and socioeconomic (family income and parents' education) variables; the second, the variables that referred to paternal (father's participation in prenatal follow-up, father's knowledge about BF, and his participation in the introduction of new foods) and maternal (marital status, parity, work outside the home, smoking, number of prenatal visits, maternal opinion about father's support, maternal perception of father's support during gestation, and maternal perception of father's participation during BF); the third, the infant's characteristics (gestational age, birth weight and use of pacifier); and the fourth, BF outcomes. At the end of analyses, only the associations with p≤0.05 were classified as statistically significant.

The variables in the second level of the theoretical model were analyzed according to what the infant's mother had reported. Therefore, results reflected maternal perceptions, as the fathers were not interviewed. Moreover, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how mothers felt about the father's support and participation and how this perception affected their decisions about BF. The questions about maternal perception of the father's support were: "how did you perceive the father's support?"; "what does the father think about BF?"; "did the father receive information about BF?"; "did he participate in the decision about introducing other foods?"; if you had any problems in BF, what was the father's reaction?"; "what does your partner think about the fact that you are breastfeeding?"; and "when you are breastfeeding, does your husband/partner participate in it?".

The outcome was defined as BF in the first, third and sixth months of the infant's life. BF was defined according to the World Health Organization⁽⁹⁾: EBF is the consumption of maternal milk only by the infant, in addition to medications, vitamins and minerals, and BF, the consumption of maternal milk, as well as other foods and non-human milks.

Results

Of the 3449 infants born during the screening phase, 81% had mothers who lived in Pelotas. Of the 2799 Pelotas infants, 58 did not participate in the study: 10 were discharged early, 26 had mothers with HIV infection, and 22 mothers refused to participate in the study. Therefore, 2741 infants were included in the study. During the follow-up phase, a 30% random sample was selected, at a total of 973 infants. For the follow-up in the first month, 951 infants (2.3% loss) were visited; in the third month, 940 (3.4% loss); and in the sixth month, 931 (4.3% loss).

In the study sample, 51.2% of the participants were boys, and 80% were white. Median birth weight was 3170 g; 8.2% had a low birth weight; and over half of the deliveries were vaginal (60.9%). Most mothers (83.8%) reported living with a partner or husband. In addition, 34.4% of the mothers worked outside the home, and 40.7% were primiparas. About one third of the infants (36.2%) were breastfed in the first hour of life.

Table 1 shows the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample. Most parents were younger than 30 years. Most fathers and mothers were white (73.3%). Half of the fathers and 41.4% of the mothers had five to eight years of schooling. Most families had an income of one to three minimum wages (59.3%). About 25.5% of the mothers smoked during pregnancy, and most had six or more prenatal visits (79.3%).

Less than half of the fathers (49.1%) was with their wives during prenatal visits, and only 34% of the mothers reported having received support from the fathers during gestation. Half of the fathers (51.2%) was with the mothers at the time of delivery, but only 3% stayed with them in the delivery room. About one third of the fathers (34.7%) received information about BF; 78% of the mothers reported that their partners supported BF, and 82.4% reported that the father participated actively during BF. The father's participation in the decision about introducing new foods was found in 20.7% of the sample. Almost all fathers (95.4%) had a favorable opinion about BF. The main reasons given by fathers, according to the mothers, for their infants to be breastfed were: "Maternal milk is better for the infant's health" (53.8%); "it is the ideal food" (16.2%); "it is good for the development of the infant" (10.0%) (data not shown).

There were no statistically significant associations between paternal characteristics, paternal support during gestation and BF initiation. The analysis of BF prevalence revealed that 60% of the infants were EBF and 10% had already been weaned during follow-up in the first month. In the third month, these rates were 39.0 and 30.0%.

Table 2 shows the results of bivariate analysis of the factors associated with BF in the first month. The following factors increased the risk of weaning: lower level of paternal education (prevalence ratio - PR=1.94), smoking during gestation (PR=1.67), mother that did not work outside the home (PR=1.59), father that did not participate in BF (PR=3.52) and use of pacifier (PR=4.67). Family income, maternal age, maternal ethnicity, maternal education, marital status, parity and number of prenatal visits were not included in the Table because their associations had a p-value greater than 0.20. Mothers that felt that their partners supported their BF continued breastfeeding, whereas only 57.0% of those that did not perceive such support continued it.

In the third month (Table 3), the factors associated with BF discontinuation were: young mother (PR=1.45); white mother (PR=1.28), lower level of paternal education (PR=1.52), smoking during gestation (PR=1.36), mother not living with partner (PR=1.37), lack of father's support for BF (PR=3.21), mother not working outside the home (PR=1.25), father's absence while mother was breastfeeding (PR=1.98), and use of pacifier (PR=4.85). The following variables were also analyzed, but were not included in the Table because p was greater than 0.20: family income, parity and number of prenatal visits.

After hierarchical multivariate analysis, the following variables remained associated with the outcome: in the first month, paternal education, paternal participation in BF and use of pacifier (Table 2); in the third month, white mother, low level of paternal education, mother not living with partner, lack of father's support for BF, lack of father's participation in BF and use of pacifier (Table 3).

There were no statistically significant associations between paternal variables and BF in the sixth month. The variables associated with weaning in the sixth month were: smoking during gestation (PR=1.25; p=0.002) and gestational age less than 37 weeks (PR=1.22; p=0.04). Multivariate analysis did not reveal the presence of confounding variables (difference between unadjusted and adjusted values was lower than 10%), and the variables associated with the outcome remained the same.

Discussion

Scientific interest has long focused on factors that may affect BF duration and be used to promote and protect BF. One of these factors, still little studied in the literature, is the father's presence, his support to the mother during BF and his participation in decision making. This study has raised information that may enrich our knowledge about the paternal factors that affect BF duration and help us to think about new strategies to support the increase of BF. As part of a longitudinal population-based study that evaluated several outcomes, this study had some limitations. The most relevant was the fact that fathers were not interviewed, and only data about maternal perceptions were used. However, it was exactly the way that mothers perceive the father's support and the way it affects them that motivated this study. In addition, the fact that it used a representative sample of all newborns in the city where it was conducted and assessed the perception of support and outcomes as they occurred, which minimized possible recall biases, increased study validity.

The father's support according to the mothers had substantial influence on BF prevalence in the first month. Similar findings were reported by Arora et al⁽⁷⁾, whose study found that the most significant factor for early weaning was the mother's perception of her partner's preference and the fear of not providing enough milk for the baby. In addition, 80% of the mothers reported that the father's support encouraged them to breastfeed. In a similar way, Littman et al⁽¹⁰⁾ demonstrated that the father's approval was the most significant factor in the decision to breastfeed. The same study found that most fathers (94%) were present at delivery, whereas only 3% of the fathers were in the delivery room in our study.

A cohort study conducted in German by Kuhlhuber et al⁽¹¹⁾ found that the factor with the strongest association with BF initiation was the father's positive attitude toward BF. Our study did not find any association between the father's support and BF in the sixth month, which suggests that the father's support and his positive attitude are more relevant in the first months of the infant's life and may lose importance in subsequent months, when other factors may be involved.

Favorable opinions and the father's active participation in breastfeeding were strongly associated with BF duration. Similar results were found in three other studies^(6,7,12). Bar-Yam and Darby⁽⁶⁾ conducted a review and found that fathers had a positive influence on three aspects: the breastfeeding decision, assistance at first feeding, and duration of breastfeeding. In contrast, the lack of the father's support may be a risk factor for bottle feeding. A similar result was found in our study, as fathers that did not support breastfeeding corresponded to a 52% greater risk of infants being bottle fed at three months (p<0.001).

The study conducted by Falceto et al⁽¹³⁾ found a strong association between parents that lived together and BF in the first months, because fathers that have a good relationship with their partners had a 3.2 times greater chance of providing the necessary support for BF. Faleiros et al⁽¹⁴⁾, in a review study, reported that mothers that had a stable relationships and received support from other people, particularly their partner, breastfed for a longer time. A similar result was found in our study at three months. Parents in a stable relationship may be more confident and relaxed about the changes in the couple's life after a gestation. Such confidence may be felt by the mother, who will then have one more reason to achieve success in BF.

The results of our study also showed an association between the father's education and BF in the first months. Fathers with a better level of education probably have better access to information and are more aware of BF benefits. Similar results were reported in studies conducted by Littman et al⁽¹⁰⁾, Susin et al⁽⁸⁾ and Flacking et al⁽¹⁵⁾.

Like the mother, the father goes through a period of adaptation when changing from man to father, a fact that has a very important impact on him. Fear, responsibility for another being, changes in his partner's behavior and in the marital relationship, all these feelings are present for most men during the time before the baby is born. Faustino and Freitas et al⁽¹⁶⁾ conducted a qualitative study and confirmed these conflicting feelings perinatally. Moreover, their study highlighted the importance of the father's presence since gestation because, in this way, the man becomes part of the process, which affects the quality of the couple's life. In the same context, Faustino and Freitas et al⁽¹⁷⁾, in a qualitative study, found that fathers are currently going through a transition, that is, a change of paradigm. The same study found that some fathers are concerned about the affective dimension of being a father and of following up their child's growth and development closely: the affective provider has gradually emerged from the material provider.

Another study conducted by Falceto et al⁽¹⁸⁾ demonstrated the association between the father's and the mother's mental health. The mother's mental health was closely correlated with the father's mental health, and the prevalence of mental disorders (depression, anxiety and others) was high. Mothers with psychiatric disorders had a two times greater risk of early weaning. This confirms the importance of having a father figure that understands and accepts the transition from man to father, and that can, therefore, avoid the development of possible mental disorders after delivery.

A number of studies has demonstrated the effectiveness of interventions that involve fathers and BF duration. Pisacane et al⁽¹²⁾ found that the support given to fathers by showing them the practice of BF and managing the difficulties that they faced increased BF rates at six months (25% in the intervention group and 15% in the control group). Wolfberg et al⁽¹⁹⁾ conducted a randomized clinical trial and found that the prevalence of BF initiation was greater in the group where fathers were present during the intervention (74 vs. 41%). In a study conducted in southern Brazil, Susin et al⁽⁸⁾ found that, in the intervention group that included fathers, the risk of EBF discontinuation was significantly reduced before the sixth month.

Our study suggests that fathers should be encouraged to participate in prenatal visits and in gestation groups, so that healthcare professionals have the opportunity to make them aware of the importance of BF.

The affective link between mother-infant-father should be formed since gestation. The active presence of the father during preparation for maternity may encourage the mother to breastfeed for a longer time because, as seen in several studies, the father's approval of breastfeeding is an extremely important factor for BF success.

References

• 1. Kac G, Sichieri R, Gigante DP. Epidemiologia nutricional. Rio de Janeiro: Fiocruz/Atheneu; 2007.
• 2. Araújo CL, Victora CG, Hallal PC, Gigante DP. Breastfeeding and overweight in childhood: evidence from the Pelotas 1993 birth cohort study. Int J Obes (Lond) 2006;500-6.
• 3. Mascarenhas ML, Albernaz EP, Silva MB, Silveira RB. Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its determiners in the first 3 months of life in the South of Brazil. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2006;82:289-94.
• 4. Scott JA, Binns CW, Oddy WH, Graham KI. Predictors of breastfeeding durating: evidence from a cohort study. Pediatrics 2006;117:e646-55.
• 5. Caminha MF, Serva VB, Arruda IK, Filho MB. Historical, scientific, sócio-economic and institutional aspects of maternal breast feeding. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant 2010;10:25-37.
• 6. Bar-Yam NB, Darby L. Fathers and breastfeeding: a review of literature. J Hum Lact 1997;13:45-50.
• 7. Arora S, McJunkin C, Wehrer J, Kuhn P. Major factors influencing breastfeeding rates: mother's perception of father's attitude and milk supply. Pediatrics 2000;106:e67.
• 8. Susin LR, Giugliani ER. Inclusion of fathers in an intervention to promote breastfeeding: impact on breastfeeding rates. J Hum Lact 2008;24:386-92.
• ⁹
  World Health Organization. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding pratices: conclusions of a concensus meeting held 6-8 November 2007 in Washington DC, USA. Geneva: WHO; 2008.
• 10. Littman H, Medendorp SV, Goldfarb J. The decision to breastfeed: the importance of fathers' approval. Clin Pediatr 1994;33:214-9.
• 11. Kohlhuber M, Rebhan B, Schwegler U, Koletzko B, Fromme H. Breastfeeding rates and duration in Germany: a Bavarian cohort study. Br J Nutr 2008;99:1127-32.
• 12. Pisacane A, Continisio GI, Aldinucci M, D'Amora S, Continisio P. A controlled trial of the father's role in breastfeeding promotion. Pediatrics 2005;116: e494-8.
• 13. Falceto OG, Giugliani ER, Fernandes CL. Couples' relationships and breastfeeding: is there an association? J Hum Lact 2004;20:46-55.
• 14. Faleiros FT, Trezza EM, Carandina L. Factors influencing breastfeeding decision and duration. Rev Nutr 2006;19:623-30.
• 15. Flacking R, Dykes F, Ewald U. The influence of fathers' socioeconomic status and paternity leave on breastfeeding duration: a population-based cohort study. Scand J Public Health 2010;38:337-43.
• 16. Faustino e Freitas WD, Coelho EA, Silva AT. Fatherhood: the male experience from a gender focus. Cad Saude Publica 2007;23:137-45.
• 17. Faustino e Freitas WD, Silva AT, Coelho EA, Guedes RN, Lucena KD, Costa AP. Paternity: social responsibility of man's role as provider. Rev Saude Publica 2009;43:85-90.
• 18. Falceto OG, Giugliani ER, Fernandes CL. Influence of parental mental health on early termination of breast-feeding: a case-control study. J Am Board Fam Pract 2004;17:173-83.
• 19. Wolfberg AJ, Michels KB, Shields W, O'Campo P, Bronner Y, Bienstock J. Dads as breastfeeding advocates: results from a randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004;191: 708-12.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  11 Oct 2012
• Date of issue
  Sept 2012

History

• Received
  18 Oct 2011
• Accepted
  06 Feb 2012