THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CESAREAN DELIVERY AND BREAST-FEEDING OUTCOMESAMONG MEXICAN WOMEN

Objectives. This study examined the impact of cesarean section deliver y on the initiation and duration of breast-feeding in the 1987. Mexica n Demographic and Health Survey. Methods. The subsample (n = 2517) was restricted to women whose delivery of their last-born children (aged 5 years and younger) was attended by a physician. Multivariate logisti c regression was used to examine the association between cesarean sect ion and the likelihood of either not initiating breast-feeding or doin g so for less than 1 month. Among women who breast-fed for 1 month or more, multivariate survival analysis was used to examine the relations hip between cesarean section and breast-feeding duration. Results. Ces arean section was a risk factor for not initiating breast-feeding (odd s ratio [OR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CT] = 0.50, 0.82) and fo r breast-feeding for less than 1 month (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.37, 0.91 ) but was unrelated to breast-feeding duration among women who breast- fed for 1 month among women or more (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.86, 1.11). Conclusions. It is desirable to provide additional breast-feeding supp ort during the early postpartum period to women who deliver via cesare an sections.