BACKGROUND Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of life with well-established benefits to the mother and child. The traditional practice of the 40-day rest period helps establish and maintain exclusive breastfeeding. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and examine the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 40 days and at 6 months in Lebanon. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2011-2012 as part of the "Early Life Nutrition and Health in Lebanon" study. A nationally representative sample of 1005 children aged five years or younger and their mothers was drawn from households using a stratified cluster sampling design. Trained nutritionists interviewed eligible mothers about sociodemographic characteristics of the household and maternal and child characteristics including infant feeding practices. Anthropometric measurements of the mother and child were collected. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the characteristics associated with exclusive breastfeeding. RESULTS The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 41.5% at 40 days and 12.3% at 6 months. Children in families with three or more children had higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding for 40 days (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.76, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.19, 2.60). Children in families owning two or more cars had lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding for 40 days (AOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24, 0.83) and at 6 months (AOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14, 0.77). Similarly, children delivered via Caesarian section had lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding for 40 days (AOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.34, 0.71) and at 6 months (AOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.24, 0.65). The odds of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months were lower among children of overweight (AOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26, 0.95) or obese (AOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32, 0.98) mothers. CONCLUSIONS The association between higher socio-economic status, as reflected by car ownership, and C-section delivery with lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding persisted across the first 6 months in Lebanon. Future research should investigate the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in prospective cohort studies and help to better understand the cultural practice of the 40-day rest period in relation to breastfeeding.

中文翻译：

---

在黎巴嫩，为期40天的休息和六个月的纯母乳喂养：一项横断面研究。

背景技术建议在婴儿出生后的头6个月内进行纯母乳喂养，这对母亲和孩子都有确定的益处。40天休息时间的传统做法有助于建立和维持纯母乳喂养。这项研究的目的是评估黎巴嫩40天和6个月纯母乳喂养的患病率并调查相关因素。方法2011-2012年进行了横断面调查，这是“黎巴嫩早期营养与健康”研究的一部分。使用分层整群抽样设计从家庭中抽取了全国代表性的1005名5岁以下的儿童及其母亲作为样本。受过训练的营养学家就家庭的社会人口学特征以及母婴特征（包括婴儿喂养方法）采访了合格的母亲。收集了母亲和孩子的人体测量数据。进行了多项逻辑回归分析以检查与纯母乳喂养有关的特征。结果纯母乳喂养的患病率在40天时为41.5％，在6个月时为12.3％。有三个或三个以上孩子的家庭中的孩子，纯母乳喂养40天的几率更高（调整后的赔率[AOR] 1.76，95％置信区间[CI] 1.19，2.60）。拥有两辆或更多汽车的家庭中的儿童在40天内（AOR 0.45，95％CI 0.24，0.83）和6个月（AOR 0.32，95％CI 0.14，0.77）的母乳喂养几率较低。同样，通过剖腹产分娩的儿童，纯母乳喂养40天（AOR 0.49，95％CI 0.34，0.71）和6个月（AOR 0.39，95％CI 0.24，0.65）的几率较低。超重（AOR 0.50，95％CI 0.26，0.95）或肥胖（AOR 0.56，95％CI 0.32，0.98）母亲的儿童中，纯母乳喂养6个月的几率较低。结论在黎巴嫩的头6个月中，汽车拥有量所反映的较高社会经济地位与剖腹产与纯母乳喂养几率较低之间的关联一直存在。未来的研究应在前瞻性队列研究中调查与纯母乳喂养有关的因素，并有助于更好地了解40天休息时间与母乳喂养有关的文化习惯。95％CI 0.34，0.71）和6个月时（AOR 0.39，95％CI 0.24，0.65）。超重（AOR 0.50，95％CI 0.26，0.95）或肥胖（AOR 0.56，95％CI 0.32，0.98）母亲的孩子中，纯母乳喂养6个月的几率较低。结论在黎巴嫩的头6个月中，汽车拥有量所反映的较高社会经济地位与剖腹产与纯母乳喂养几率较低之间的关联一直存在。未来的研究应在前瞻性队列研究中调查与纯母乳喂养有关的因素，并有助于更好地了解40天休息时间与母乳喂养有关的文化习惯。95％CI 0.34，0.71）和6个月时（AOR 0.39，95％CI 0.24，0.65）。超重（AOR 0.50，95％CI 0.26，0.95）或肥胖（AOR 0.56，95％CI 0.32，0.98）母亲的儿童中，纯母乳喂养6个月的几率较低。结论在黎巴嫩的头6个月中，汽车拥有量所反映的较高社会经济地位与剖腹产与纯母乳喂养几率较低之间的关联一直存在。未来的研究应在前瞻性队列研究中调查与纯母乳喂养有关的因素，并有助于更好地了解40天休息时间与母乳喂养有关的文化习惯。95）或肥胖（AOR 0.56，95％CI 0.32，0.98）的母亲。结论在黎巴嫩的头6个月中，汽车拥有量所反映的较高社会经济地位与剖腹产与纯母乳喂养几率较低之间的关联一直存在。未来的研究应在前瞻性队列研究中调查与纯母乳喂养有关的因素，并有助于更好地了解40天休息时间与母乳喂养有关的文化习惯。95）或肥胖（AOR 0.56，95％CI 0.32，0.98）的母亲。结论在黎巴嫩的头6个月中，汽车拥有量所反映的较高社会经济地位与剖腹产与纯母乳喂养几率较低之间的关联一直存在。未来的研究应在前瞻性队列研究中调查与纯母乳喂养有关的因素，并有助于更好地了解40天休息时间与母乳喂养有关的文化习惯。