Motivations and Perceived Barriers to Initiate or Sustain Breastfeeding among Spanish Women

OBJECTIVE: Breastfeeding for its multiple benefits is the best cost-effective health intervention and should be a public health priority. The aim of this study was to determine motivations and barriers perceived by mothers to initiate or to maintain breastfeeding. METODOS: Estudio observacional transversal con 569 madres residentes en Espana en 2013, con hijos menores de 2 anos que cumplimentaron un cuestionario estructurado. Muestreo bietapico, estratificado por comunidades autonomas y no probabilistico en cada comunidad. RESULTS: 88% of the mothers were breastfeeding their children or had breastfed. At the time of the survey 66.6% had stopped breastfeeding, and the average age for weaning was 6.4 (SD 3.8) months. The main reason for stopping breastfeeding was maternal perceptions of insufficient milk supply (29%). The second reason was going back to work (18%). 67% of the mothers said that they made the decision to breastfeed on their own. The main disadvantages reported were: the difficulty to reconcile breastfeeding and work (43%), breastfeeding in public places (39%), more frequent nighttime awakenings (62%) and the reduced weight gain of the baby (29%). Going back to work was the main reason for choosing formula feeding (34%) and also for initiating partial breastfeeding (39%). CONCLUSIONS: The main disadvantages reported were: the difficulty to reconcile breastfeeding and work, breastfeeding in public places, more frequent nighttime awakenings and the reduced weight gain of the baby. Going back to work was the main reason for choosing formula feeding and also for initiating partial breastfeeding.