There are many factors that might influence the early cessation of
breastfeeding. In developed countries, young mothers and those
in low-income groups or those who ceased full-time education at
an early age are least likely to either start breastfeeding or continue
for a period of time sufficient to confer health gain (Hamlyn
2002). Enkin notes that industrial societies, on the whole, do not
provide women with the opportunity to observe other breastfeeding
women before they attempt breastfeeding themselves (Enkin
2000). In such societies, women are at risk of lack of support to
breastfeed their babies. Paradoxically, in poorer countries, more af-
fluent groups may have lower breastfeeding rates (Chhabra 1998;
Rogers 1997). This is particularly important as there is a protective
effect when breastfeeding continues for long periods of time,
resulting in reduced infant mortality and child mortality in the
second year of life in less developed countries (WHO 2000).
Although some women will choose to breastfeed their infant for
a limited amount of time, or not at all, there is evidence that
many women are disappointed that they have not been successful
in breastfeeding for longer. Hamlyn 2002 reports that 87% of
mothers who ceased breastfeeding within six weeks of birth would
have liked to breast feed for longer. For those mothers who breastfed
for at least six months, 37% would have preferred to continue for
longer.