Exploring Relationships Between Food Security Status, Infant Feeding Attitude and Breastfeeding Intention in Pregnant Women Attending a Health Care Facility in Cape Town, South Africa
Debby Gates, Baheya Najaar, Kimberleigh Brody, Justine Hamann, Yenziwe Ndlovu, Michaela Smith, Janetta HarbronBackground:
Breastmilk provides optimal infant nutrition and contributes to successful growth and development. Interlinked determinants influence breastfeeding attitude, intention, and duration.
Research Aims:
This study aimed to investigate relationships between socioeconomic indicators, food security status, infant feeding attitude and breastfeeding intentions of pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa.
Methods:
This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited 218 adult women (third trimester; singleton pregnancy; without gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia). A study-specific questionnaire, including validated infant feeding attitude and food security status questionnaires, was used. Descriptive statistics were expressed as percentages and medians (interquartile ranges), while associations were explored with non-parametric tests and regression modeling.
Results:
Participants’ median age was 27 years (23–32). The majority had monthly household incomes between 0-308 USD (R0–R5000) (61.1%), did not receive social grants (60.4%), were employed (53.7%), and were married or living with partners (53.0%). Exclusive breastfeeding intention after birth was 84.4% but 32.9% on returning to the workplace. Infant feeding attitudes predominantly reflected neutral towards breastfeeding (96.8%), with a median score of 61.0 (58.0–64.0). Households with children (
Conclusion:
Food security status was not associated with infant feeding attitude, breastfeeding intention after birth, or on returning to the workplace.