The prevalence and characteristics associated with mother-infant bed-sharing in Klang district, Malaysia

Med J Malaysia. 2009 Dec;64(4):311-5.

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence and characteristics of mother-infant bed-sharing practice in Klang district, Malaysia. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire for a four month period in 2006. A total of 682 mother-infant pairs attending government health clinics were included in the study. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics of the mothers, information on the infants, bed-sharing and breastfeeding practices were collected. The mean maternal age was 28.4 +/- 5.1 years while the mean infant gestational age was 38.8 +/- 1.8 weeks. The study showed the prevalence of bed-sharing was 73.5% (95% CI: 70.0, 76.7). In multivariate analysis; area of interview, maternal occupation, family income, breastfeeding and infant birth weight were associated with bed-sharing after adjusted for maternal ethnicity, age, marital status, educational level, parity, infant gender and infant gestational age. In conclusion, bed-sharing is a common practice in Klang district, Malaysia, not specific to ethnicity, but strongly associated with low family income and breastfeeding.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Beds
  • Birth Weight
  • Breast Feeding
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Malaysia
  • Maternal Behavior*
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prevalence