Breast Feeding Among Poor Singaporeans

Since 1951 there have been a number of published and unpublished surveys of breastfeeding in Singapore. The outstanding pattern is a sharp decline in the incidence and duration of breastfeeding. This study examines the present incidence of breastfeeding among poor Singaporean mothers and examines some likely influences on their choice of a feeding method. Data were obtained from interviews of 310 mothers housed in an economy class ward of Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital. At present about 36% of poor Singaporean mothers initiate breastfeeding. This value is over 50% less than that reported 3 decades ago and the decline is probably a result of the increasing affluence and Westernization of the country as a whole. Within the sample 72% of Malays 59% of Indians and 26% of Chinese favored breastfeeding over bottle feeding. Ethnic differences were attributed to variations among the communities in traditional values rather than in education or occupation. None of the chosen physical characteristics of mothers or babies varied significantly between the 2 feeding groups. Only 2 of the 5 selected environmental influences showed significant relationships with a mothers choice. One was the husbands attitude towards breastfeeding. The 2nd relationship was with doctors advice. Among behavioral variables only prior knowledge of breastfeeding and use of health tonics differed significantly between feeding groups.