Conflict or congruence? Maternal and infant-centric factors associated with shorter exclusive breastfeeding durations among the Tsimane

Melanie A. Martin, Geni Garcia, Hillard Kaplan and Michael D. Gurven

Social Science & Medicine, 2016, vol. 170, issue C, 9-17

Abstract: Six months of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is considered optimal for infant health, though globally most infants begin complementary feeding (CF) earlier—including among populations that practice prolonged breastfeeding. Two frameworks for understanding patterns of early CF emerge in the literature. In the first, maternal and infant needs trade-off, as “maternal-centric” factors—related to time and energy demands, reproductive investment, cultural influences, and structural barriers— favor supplanting breastfeeding with earlier and increased CF. A second framework considers that “infant-centric” factors—related to infant energetic needs—favor CF before six months to supplement breastfeeding.

Keywords: Bolivia; Breastfeeding; Complementary feeding; Infant and young child feeding practices; Indigenous health; Premastication; Low milk supply (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:170:y:2016:i:c:p:9-17

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.10.003

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