Abstract 69

Aims: To determine the main reasons mothers in our hospital's catchment area have for deciding not to breast feed.

Subjects: 439 antenatal patients surveyed by questionnaire from Aug 96 to Jan 97.

Results: Social class had a significant influence in breast feeding intentions, with social class I most likely to breast feed, and classes IV and V least likely (P<0.001). There was a significant difference between married patients and all types of unmarried patients; living with partner, with parents or alone (P<0.001), married patients being more likely to breast feed. There was a significant difference in the breast feeding intentions of married patients and those living with a partner(P<0.001), married patients being more likely to breast feed. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups of unmarried mothers (P>0.5). When broken down by Social Class married patients were more likely to breast feed in class IV (P<0.01), and class V (P<0.05). There was no difference between married and unmarried patients in classes II and III. All patients in class I were married.

Conclusions: Social class affects a mother's decision to breastfeed. We found no difference in breast feeding intentions for unmarried mothers, irrespective of type of relationship, whereas married mothers were more likely to breast feed. This does not appear to be related to social class.