Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study
Background Breastfeeding is important for early childhood nutrition and health. The positive effects on educational outcomes may be attributed to socioeconomic factors. Socioeconomic status is not a strong predictor of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan African countries. Yet, few studies have investigate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2338023 |
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| author | Shamsudeen Mohammed Clara Calvert Joseph O Mugisha Makanga Ronald Gershim Asiki Judith R Glynn Laura L Oakley Milly Marston |
| author_facet | Shamsudeen Mohammed Clara Calvert Joseph O Mugisha Makanga Ronald Gershim Asiki Judith R Glynn Laura L Oakley Milly Marston |
| author_sort | Shamsudeen Mohammed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Breastfeeding is important for early childhood nutrition and health. The positive effects on educational outcomes may be attributed to socioeconomic factors. Socioeconomic status is not a strong predictor of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan African countries. Yet, few studies have investigated the association between breastfeeding and educational outcomes in these countries. Objective This study investigated the association between breastfeeding duration and children’s educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda. Methods We analysed longitudinal data on 3018 children who had information on breastfeeding and were followed for at least 5 years, with at least one primary school grade recorded by 2005. Data on breastfeeding duration were collected from mothers. The highest school grade was recorded repeatedly between ages 6 and 12 years. We calculated age-for-grade based on whether a child was on, over, or under the official age for a grade. Generalised estimating equations and binary logistic regression estimated the effect of breastfeeding duration on being 2 years, 3 or more years, or any years over-age for grade in primary school, adjusting for socioeconomic status and maternal-child characteristics. Results Most mothers breastfed for more than a year. Just over one-third breastfed for 18–23 months, and 30% breastfed for longer. By age eight, 42% of the children were two years over-age for their grade. Three or more years over-age for grade increased from 19% at age nine to 56% at age 12. Both adjusted and unadjusted estimates were consistent in showing reduced odds for children being 2 years, 3 or more years, or any years over-age for grade among children breastfed for 7–12, 13–17, 18–23, and > 23 months compared to those breastfed for 0–6 months. There was no evidence to support an overall association between breastfeeding duration and being over-age for grade. There was no evidence of association in the sex and age sub-group analyses. Conclusion Although we found no association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment, breastfeeding remains important for children’s health and nutrition, and mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed for the recommended duration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-901df7316a92436b98f6d6c0730b42d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-901df7316a92436b98f6d6c0730b42d02025-02-05T12:46:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802024-12-0117110.1080/16549716.2024.23380232338023Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort studyShamsudeen Mohammed0Clara Calvert1Joseph O Mugisha2Makanga Ronald3Gershim Asiki4Judith R Glynn5Laura L Oakley6Milly Marston7London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineUniversity of EdinburghMRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research UnitMRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research UnitAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineBackground Breastfeeding is important for early childhood nutrition and health. The positive effects on educational outcomes may be attributed to socioeconomic factors. Socioeconomic status is not a strong predictor of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan African countries. Yet, few studies have investigated the association between breastfeeding and educational outcomes in these countries. Objective This study investigated the association between breastfeeding duration and children’s educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda. Methods We analysed longitudinal data on 3018 children who had information on breastfeeding and were followed for at least 5 years, with at least one primary school grade recorded by 2005. Data on breastfeeding duration were collected from mothers. The highest school grade was recorded repeatedly between ages 6 and 12 years. We calculated age-for-grade based on whether a child was on, over, or under the official age for a grade. Generalised estimating equations and binary logistic regression estimated the effect of breastfeeding duration on being 2 years, 3 or more years, or any years over-age for grade in primary school, adjusting for socioeconomic status and maternal-child characteristics. Results Most mothers breastfed for more than a year. Just over one-third breastfed for 18–23 months, and 30% breastfed for longer. By age eight, 42% of the children were two years over-age for their grade. Three or more years over-age for grade increased from 19% at age nine to 56% at age 12. Both adjusted and unadjusted estimates were consistent in showing reduced odds for children being 2 years, 3 or more years, or any years over-age for grade among children breastfed for 7–12, 13–17, 18–23, and > 23 months compared to those breastfed for 0–6 months. There was no evidence to support an overall association between breastfeeding duration and being over-age for grade. There was no evidence of association in the sex and age sub-group analyses. Conclusion Although we found no association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment, breastfeeding remains important for children’s health and nutrition, and mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed for the recommended duration.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2338023breastfeedingeducational attainmentschoolingeducational achievementugandasub-saharan africa |
| spellingShingle | Shamsudeen Mohammed Clara Calvert Joseph O Mugisha Makanga Ronald Gershim Asiki Judith R Glynn Laura L Oakley Milly Marston Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study Global Health Action breastfeeding educational attainment schooling educational achievement uganda sub-saharan africa |
| title | Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study |
| title_full | Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study |
| title_short | Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study |
| title_sort | association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural southwest uganda a population based cohort study |
| topic | breastfeeding educational attainment schooling educational achievement uganda sub-saharan africa |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2338023 |
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