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6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JULY 2024 NEWS Age, education major factors in determining whether babies are breastfed, study finds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The study, published in the Malta Journal of Health Scienc- es, was based on the responses of mothers recruited from six well-baby clinics and outpatient departments across Malta and Gozo. The data finds that 43% of mothers classified at a lower level of education were feeding their children exclusively for- mula milk. In contrast, only 22% of those with a higher level of education did likewise. Mothers with a low level of education had decided to stop breastfeeding at just 2.6 months, while mothers with a post-secondary level of educa- tion continued to breastfeed for about four months. Overall, during the first eight months, nearly half of all moth- ers relied on a combination of breast and formula milk (48%) while 22% relied on breast milk only and 29% used formula milk only. But the percentage of those who used formula milk only was higher among 18-24 year-olds (45%) and among those aged over 35 (39.6%). The study also suggests that housewives are more likely to rely on formula milk than work- ing mothers. While 23% of both categories rely solely on breast milk, 38% of housewives and 24% of employed mothers rely solely on formula milk. On the other hand, working mothers are more likely to rely on a com- bination of formula and breast milk (53%) than housewives (39%). The study, authored by Jus- tine Parnis Ignjatovic and Pe- tra Jones from the University of Malta's Faculty of Health Sciences, which focused on health inequalities, found that 42.1% of mothers were still breastfeeding their infants at eight months. But on aver- age breastfeeding was stopped when the infant was 3.6 months old. The duration of breastfeeding falls short of the recommenda- tions set by the World Health Organisation which recom- mends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. One possible reason account- ing for these health inequalities, according to the study, is that better-educated mothers are more mentally prepared for the post-partum period, enabling them to breastfeed for longer. This preparedness is often sup- ported by greater emotional and practical help, which less educated mothers may lack. The authors recommended more targeted public health interventions and community support that address these so- cio-economic factors. "By tackling the disparities in maternal education and age, public health initiatives can work towards reducing health inequalities and improving in- fant feeding practices across the Maltese island," they said. The study also highlights the urgent need for public health policies that address the so- cio-economic factors influ- encing infant feeding practic- es. "Ensuring that all mothers receive adequate support and education is essential for pro- moting optimal breastfeeding and weaning practices, which are crucial for the health and well-being of infants in Malta. Strengthened community sup- port and tailored public health strategies must be implement- ed to support younger and less educated mothers in their breastfeeding and weaning journeys, ultimately fostering better health for future gener- ations." Other findings The study highlighted that nearly all infants were weaned at the appropriate age, with only 1.2% being weaned when they were younger than four months, and 3.6% being weaned when they were older than 6 months. This suggests that, despite variations in breastfeeding du- ration, most mothers are fol- lowing recommended weaning practices. Less than 4% of participants relied exclusively on store- bought products for weaning while over 71% relied solely on home-made foods. The study found no significant variations based on the employment and education status of respond- ents. But respondents with a high- er level of education and who were employed were more like- ly to use both home-made and store-bought products. In both categories 27% opted for a mix. On the other hand, only 22% of mothers with a low level of education or who are not em- ployed did likewise. But respondents with a low level of education and who were not employed, were more likely to rely solely on store bought products. In fact, while only 2% of mothers with a high education and 1% of employed mothers relied solely on store- bought food, the percentage rises to 7% among those with a lower level of education and to 8% amongst those who were not in employment.