Parental education plays a key role in how long infants are breastfed

Breastfeeding is closely linked to both the child’s health and development. Nevertheless, there are significant differences in how long Danish infants are breastfed – and these differences largely follow the length of the parents’ education.

This is shown in a new report on social patterns in breastfeeding from the collaboration The Child Health Database. The report is based on data from 18,238 infants born in 2023 across 33 municipalities – corresponding to approximately 30 percent of a birth cohort.

The researchers examined a wide range of sociodemographic factors to determine which has the greatest impact on the duration of breastfeeding. The conclusion is clear:

Parental education outweighs, for example, income, employment and origin.

“We have long known that education matters. But when we compare it with other sociodemographic factors, it becomes clear that parental education has the greatest influence on breastfeeding duration,” says Trine Pagh Pedersen, senior researcher at the National Institute of Public Health and project manager of the collaboration The Child Health Database.

She points out that the difference is substantial in practice:

Parents with shorter education fully breastfeed their children for a shorter period on average than parents with longer education.

“For example, there is nearly a two-month difference between parents with longer education and those with only primary school education in how long the child is fully breastfed. That is a large difference when we are talking about breastfeeding,” she says.

Actively seeking knowledge about breastfeeding

According to the report, 66 percent of all infants in the study are fully breastfed for at least four months, and 26 percent for at least six months.

The Danish Health Authority recommends that infants are fully breastfed for around six months and then partially breastfed up to 12 months or longer.

According to Trine Pagh Pedersen, there are several possible explanations for why parental education is so important.

One is that parents with higher education are more likely to be aware of the recommendations and actively seek out knowledge about breastfeeding. In addition, many other factors may play a role, such as norms and available resources in everyday life.

Linked to later development and well-being

The study also points to a link between breastfeeding and the child’s later development and well-being.

Children who are not fully breastfed for at least four months more often receive remarks from community health nurses at the age of 8–11 months. This applies, among other things, to their motor development, language and contact with their parents.

After education, family type is the sociodemographic factor with the greatest influence.

Infants growing up with two parents are, on average, breastfed for longer than children of single parents.

“It is interesting that family type also matters so much for how long an infant is breastfed. But from previous research we know that support from close relations plays an important role for both the initiation and duration of breastfeeding,” says Trine Pagh Pedersen.

Several factors play a role

The report also shows that a number of other factors influence how long infants are breastfed. These include:

• whether the child is a singleton or a twin
• smoking during pregnancy
• birth by caesarean section
• parental origin
• income and employment

Can be used to improve support

According to Trine Pagh Pedersen, the findings can be used to better target support efforts.

“It is important to continue supporting families who face challenges and help them initiate and maintain breastfeeding. The report helps identify which families midwives and community health nurses should pay particular attention to,” she says.

Contact: Senior researcher and project manager Trine Pagh Pedersen, tel.: +45 6550 7885, e-mail: tppe@sdu.dk, National Institute of Public Health, SDU.