Influence of parental mental health on early termination of breast-feeding: a case-control study

Background: The WHO recommends exclusive breast-feeding for babies up to 6 months of age. The association between maternal mental health and breast-feeding duration is contradictory. This is a case-control study to investigate this association. Methods: 153 families with 4-month-old babies from an urban area in southern Brazil were investigated: in 51 families, breast-feeding had being discontinued (cases); in 102, babies were being breast-fed (controls). Two researchers evaluated maternal and paternal mental health during home visits using semistructured interviews and scales. Results: Disorders were found in 59% of case mothers versus 48% of control mothers. Depression was the most prevalent disorder affecting both mothers and fathers. We did not identify a statistically significant association between maternal mental disorder at 4 months after delivery and early termination of breast-feeding. When the mother had mental problems during the first month after delivery, however, she was twice as likely to interrupt breast-feeding. Among the mothers with mental disorders during puerperium, 76% still had the problem 4 months postpartum. An association was observed between maternal and paternal mental health. Conclusions: Parental mental health does not seem culture setting where most mothers have good family and social support for breast-feeding. Maternal mental disorders during puerperium, however, may negatively affect the duration of breast-feeding.