Infant Feeding Practices among Mothers with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Selangor

Nur Syafika Ramlee, Syahrul Bariah Abdul Hamid, Farhanah Ahmad Shuhaimi

Abstract

This study aims to determine infant feeding practices including breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, duration of breastfeeding and complementary feeding, feeding practices related factors among mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) history, and the association between Infant and Young Child Feeding indicators and GDM status. A cross-sectional study (n=130) was conducted from February to June 2023 in Meru and Bandar Botanic health clinics. Data on infant feeding practices were gathered from GDM mothers and children aged below two years. Findings showed that 43.8% (n=57) of the mothers had initiated breastfeeding within an hour, 57.7% (n=75) infants were exclusively breastfed, 30.0% (n=39) continued breastfeeding for one year and 81.9% (n=68) had an appropriate time of complementary feeding. Mothers who had caesarean-section delivery and GDM were more likely to initiate breastfeeding after an hour of delivery, p<0.05. Exclusive breastfeeding was highly practiced by older, multiparous, and higher education mothers. Unemployed mothers were more likely to continue breastfeeding for one year. GDM mothers were more inclined to delay breastfeeding initiation and introduced complementary feeding appropriately, p<0.05. This study's findings bridge the gap in providing information on infant feeding practices among mothers with a history of GDM and therefore might be beneficial for related personnel to figure out how to overcome this concerning issue in the future.

References

Al-Jawaldeh A, Abul-Fadl A. 2018. Assessment of the baby friendly hospital initiative implementation in the eastern mediterranean region. Children 5(3):41. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5030041
Birungi TL, Ejalu DL. 2022. Optimal complementary feeding practices among caregivers and their children aged 6–23 months in Kisoro district, Uganda. BMC Nutrition 8(1):1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-022-00581-0
Bong M, Karim N, Noor I. 2018. Nutritional status and complementary feeding among Penan infants and young children in rural Sarawak, Malaysia. Mal J Nutr 24(4):539–550.
Dualis HB, Swe S, Jeffree MS, Ibrahim MYHj, Lukman KA, Hayati MF, Robinson F, Tha NO, Abdul Rahim SSBS. 2020. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Tuaran, Sabah State, Malaysia. Turkiye Klinikleri J Med Sci 40(4):425–432. https://doi.org/10.5336/medsci.2020-75356
Emmanuel A, Clow SE. 2017. A questionnaire for assessing breastfeeding intentions and practices in Nigeria: Validity, reliability and translation. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 17(1):1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1366-9
Gedefaw G, Goedert MH, Abebe E, Demis A. 2020. Effect of cesarean section on initiation of breast feeding: Findings from 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. Plos One 15(12):e0244229. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244229
Inano H, Kameya M, Sasano K, Matsumura K, Tsuchida A, Hamazaki K, Inadera H, Hasegawa T. 2021. Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding rates until 6 months postpartum: The Japan environment and children’s study. Sci Rep 11(1):6841. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85900-4
[IPH] Institute for Public Health. 2016. National Health and Morbidity Survey 2016 (NHMS 2016). Maternal and Child Health. Vol. I: Methodology and General Findings. Malysia (KL): IPH, NIH, MoH
Jirakittidul P, Panichyawat N, Chotrungrote B, Mala A. 2019. Prevalence and associated factors of breastfeeding in women with gestational diabetes in a University Hospital in Thailand. Int Breastfeed J 14(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-019-0227-8
Laksono AD, Wulandari RD, Ibad M, Kusrini I. 2021. The effects of mother’s education on achieving exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia. BMC Public Health 21(1):1‒6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10018-7
Leow TYQ, Ung A, Qian S, Nguyen JT, An Y, Mudgil P, Whitehall J. 2017. Exploring infant feeding practices: Cross-sectional surveys of South Western Sydney, Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City. BMC Pediatr 17(1):1‒13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-017-0902-0
Mulugeta G, Tesfaye D, Tegegne AS. 2022. Predictors for the duration of breastfeeding among ethiopia women of childbearing age with babies; application of accelerate failure time and parametric shared frailty models. BMC Nutr 8(1):1‒10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-022-00601-z
Nguyen PTH, Binns CW, Nguyen CL, Ha AVV, Chu TK, Duong DV, Do DV, Lee AH. 2019. Gestational diabetes mellitus reduces breastfeeding duration: A prospective cohort study. Breastfeed Med 14(1):39–45. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2018.0112
Oza-Frank R, Moreland JJ, McNamara K, Geraghty SR, Keim SA. 2016. Early lactation and infant feeding practices differ by maternal gestational diabetes history. J Hum Lact 32(4):658–665. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334416663196
Parnis J, Calleja N, Jones P. 2020. Socioeconomic influences on breastfeeding and weaning practices in a Mediterranean setting. Proc Nutr Soc 79(OCE2):E443. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665120003912
Pilus FM, Ahmad N, Zulkefli NAM. 2019. Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending rural health clinics in Hulu Langat district. Malaysian J Med Health Sci 15(SP3):15–21.
Rollins NC, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, Horton S, Lutter CK, Martines JC, Piwoz EG, Richter LM, Victora CG. 2016. Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices? Lancet 387(10017):491–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(15)01044-2
Sandhi A, Lee GT, Chipojola R, Huda MH, Kuo SY. 2020. The relationship between perceived milk supply and exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months postpartum: a cross-sectional study. Int Breastfeed J 15(1):1‒11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-020-00310-y
Shohaimi NM, Mazelan M, Ramanathan K, Meor Hazizi MS, Leong YN, Cheong XB, Ambigapathy S, Cheong AT. 2022. Intention and practice on breastfeeding among pregnant mothers in Malaysia and factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding: A cohort study. Plos One 17(1):e0262401. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262401
Shuhaimi FA, Abd Hamid SB. 2023. Breastfeeding duration, intensity, and its association with postnatal diabetes among women with prior gestational diabetes: A scoping review. J Sustain Sci Manag 18(6):161–174. https://doi.org/10.46754/jssm.2023.06.014
Suwaydi MA, Wlodek ME, Lai CT, Prosser SA, Geddes DT, Perrella SL. 2022. Delayed secretory activation and low milk production in women with gestational diabetes: a case series. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 22(1):350. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04685-0
Teng CL, Yong FK, Lum KM, Toh SY, Hii CX, Nalliah S.2021. Gestational diabetes in Malaysia: A systematic review of prevalence, risk factors and outcomes. Sains Malays 50(8):2367–2377. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5008-19
Theodorah DZ, Mc’Deline RN. 2021. ‘The kind of support that matters to exclusive breastfeeding’ a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21(1):1‒8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03590-2
Tulpule C, Zheng M, Campbell KJ, Bolton KA. 2022. Differences in infant feeding practices between Indian-born mothers and Australian-born mothers living in Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 22(1):1‒11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13228-3
Yılmaz E, Öcal FD, Vural Yılmaz Z, Ceyhan M, Kara O, Küçüközkan T. 2017. Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding: Factors influencing the attitudes of mothers who gave birth in a baby-friendly hospital. Turk J Obstet Gynecol 14:1–9. https://doi.org/10.4274/tjod.90018
[WHO] World Health Organization. 2019. Children: Reducing mortality. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/children-reducing-mortality [Accessed 30th November 2023].
[WHO & UNICEF] World Health Organization & United Nations Children’s Fund. 2021. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241596664 [Accessed 30th November 2023].

Authors

Nur Syafika Ramlee
Syahrul Bariah Abdul Hamid
syahrulbariah@uitm.edu.my (Primary Contact)
Farhanah Ahmad Shuhaimi
RamleeN. S., Abdul HamidS. B., & Ahmad ShuhaimiF. (2024). Infant Feeding Practices among Mothers with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Selangor. Jurnal Gizi Dan Pangan, 19(Supp.2), 278-287. https://doi.org/10.25182/jgp.2024.19.Supp.2.278-287

Article Details