Breastfeeding in French Guiana in 2024: prevalence, duration and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding

Introduction - Exclusive breastfeeding, essential for health throughout life, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for up to six months, as well as breastfeeding continued for up to two years or more, in supplement to an appropriate diet. Globally, exclusive breastfeeding targets remain difficult to achieve. In French Guiana, partial or outdated data does not allow these indicators to be measured. The ANJE Nutri study aimed to estimate the prevalence of breastfeeding practices and to identify the factors influencing them. Methods - This multicenter survey was conducted by telephone with mothers who had been included in the Nutri Pou Ti’moun study, 12 months after giving birth in one of French Guiana's three maternity wards. Data were collected using a questionnaire by multilingual interviewers. Results - Between March and October 2024, 382 mother-child pairs were included in the study. The majority of infants (91.6%) were breastfed during their first year, with 51.6% being exclusively breastfed. In the maternity ward, 69.6% of the women included in the study reported receiving breastfeeding support from a healthcare professional. Upon leaving the maternity ward, 40.9% of breastfeeding mothers reported receiving support, while 22.8% wished they had received support but did not. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months postpartum was more prevalent among younger mothers and those with higher education. Conversely, this practice was negatively associated with being born in French Guiana and with the early introduction of supplements in the maternity ward. A significant interaction was identified between age and place of birth. Thus, compared to women aged 20-34 born in France (excluding French Guiana), analysis of this interaction revealed that women under 20 born in Haiti were less likely to breastfeed exclusively for at least 4 months, while women aged 35 and over born in French Guiana were more likely to do so. Finally, the main reasons for stopping breastfeeding were the child's refusal to breastfeed, the feeling of not having enough milk, the mother's desire to stop, and a return to work. Conclusion – Overall breastfeeding rates in French Guiana are encouraging, but the early and frequent introduction of supplements in the maternity and disparities in access to breastfeeding support limit the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. These results highlighted the need for early, coordinated and culturally appropriate support strategies tailored to the diverse maternal profiles in the territory in order to strengthen exclusive breastfeeding practices and promote informed choices about infant feeding.