Early Breastfeeding Practices Promote Effective Parenting: An Analytical Study in Countries exposed to Conflict in the Middle East

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding is nurture and nutrition for every child, but the extent to which it influences parenting is controversial. Aim: To examine the effect of early breastfeeding practices in relation to child discipline and childcare. Methods: Global data from was examined from 52 provinces in four countries. The data included: early initiation of breastfeeding [EIBF] in the first hour and the first day, offering prelacteals, exclusive breastfeeding [EBF] and continued breastfeeding [CBF]. Parenting practices included exposure to psychological aggression and physical punishment and attitudes to physical punishment for rearing in children 1-14 years. Childcare indices included child left alone, with care of a child less than 10 years and with inadequate caregiver. Correlative studies and descriptive statistical analysis were done. Results: EBI within the first hour of birth was significantly correlated with non-violent discipline [r0.5] P 0.05. EBF inversely correlated with psychological [r-0.5] and minor physical punishment [r-0.4] and being left alone in the past week [r-0.5] at P<0.05. Longer duration of breastfeeding for 12 and 24 months correlated inversely with severe physical punishment [r-0.6 at P<0.01 and r-0.5 at P<0.05 respectively]. CBF for two years was also negatively correlated with being left alone [r0.5 at P>0.05]. Variations between countries in parenting styles and adequacy of childcare related to breastfeeding patterns. Conclusions: Breastfeeding is protective against violent parenting styles and enhances adequacy of childcare. Exposure to operative delivery with anesthesia may interfere with EIBF and negatively influence parenting.