A recent study involving 250 mothers of eight-month-old infants has revealed a potential connection between education levels and breastfeeding practices. The research, published in the Malta Journal of Health Sciences, indicates that women with lower education levels are more likely to rely on formula milk for their babies.
The study, conducted by Justine Parnis Ignjatovic and Petra Jones from the University of Malta’s Faculty of Health Sciences, drew data from mothers at six well-baby clinics and outpatient departments across Malta and Gozo. It found that 43% of mothers with lower education levels were exclusively using formula milk, compared to only 22% of mothers with higher education.
Mothers with less education stopped breastfeeding at an average of just 2.6 months, while those with a post-secondary education continued for about four months. Overall, during the first eight months of their infants’ lives, nearly half of the mothers used a mix of breast and formula milk (48%). Meanwhile, 22% used only breast milk, and 29% relied solely on formula.
The study also highlighted age and employment status as factors influencing breastfeeding. Among 18-24 year-olds, 45% used only formula milk, and 39.6% of mothers over 35 did the same. Housewives were more likely to use formula milk exclusively (38%) compared to employed mothers (24%). Conversely, working mothers were more inclined to use a combination of breast and formula milk (53%) than housewives (39%).
The research underscores a significant health disparity: only 42.1% of mothers were still breastfeeding at eight months, and the average breastfeeding duration was 3.6 months—short of the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
The authors suggest that better-educated mothers might be more mentally prepared for the postpartum period, contributing to longer breastfeeding durations. This preparedness is often supported by greater emotional and practical assistance, which less educated mothers may lack.
To address these disparities, the authors recommend targeted public health interventions and community support. They emphasize the need for policies that address socio-economic factors affecting breastfeeding practices.
“By addressing disparities in maternal education and age, public health initiatives can help reduce health inequalities and improve infant feeding practices in Malta,” said the authors.
The study also pointed out that nearly all infants were weaned at appropriate ages: only 1.2% before four months and 3.6% after six months. This suggests that despite differences in breastfeeding duration, most mothers follow recommended weaning practices.
Regarding weaning foods, less than 4% of mothers used exclusively store-bought products, while over 71% relied solely on homemade foods. Higher-educated and employed mothers were more likely to use both homemade and store-bought products (27% in each category), whereas only 22% of lower-educated or unemployed mothers did the same. Additionally, 7% of less educated and 8% of unemployed mothers used only store-bought foods, compared to just 2% of highly educated and 1% of employed mothers.
This study highlights the need for enhanced community support and tailored public health strategies to support breastfeeding and weaning practices, particularly for younger and less educated mothers.
