Why Some Women Stop Breastfeeding

Rural life may not be best for babies. Infants in small towns seem to be missing out on mother's milk. According to a recent study, women from rural areas are less likely to breastfeed their children. Lower education and full-time employment affect breastfeeding practices.

Wendy Hellerstedt, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, analyzed a study of immunizations and childcare in 13 counties located in rural northwestern Minnesota. The area has some of the lowest per capita income in the state, along with low measures of health for both mothers and their babies.

Of the 414 women in the study, only 39 percent reported that they breastfed their infants. And for those who did their infants suckled for 4.4 months, on average.

Mothers with a college education and who worked less than full time were three times more likely to breastfeed infants than moms who worked full time and did not go to college. College mothers also breastfeed longer. In addition, Hellerstedt found that older mothers were two to three times more likely to continue breastfeeding.

Experts agree that breastfeeding is important for child development. It is known to reduce childhood illnesses by strengthening the immune system. They recommend breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life.