Analysis of Factors of Incompliance To Breastfeeding in Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Mothers Taking Nucleos(t)ide Analogs During Pregnancy for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission

Abstract Background: We encourage Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers to breastfeed postpartum, even when continuing pregnancy category B nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment. However, a large proportion of the Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers were not compliance to the breastfeeding recommendation. This study aimed to investigate the causes and influencing factors of incompliance to breastfeeding recommendation in Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers receiving nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment during pregnancy for preventing mother-to-child transmission.Methods: A total of 155 mothers with chronic hepatitis B receiving nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment for preventing mother-to-child transmission during the late gestational period were included and divided into the exclusive breastfeeding (n=63), mixed feeding (n=34), and artificial feeding (n=58) groups according to the feeding types postpartum. Independent variables associated with feeding types were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.Results: Compared to the breastfeeding and mixed feeding groups, the artificial feeding group had significantly higher parity, later postpartum timing of stopping nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment, and lower proportion of having knowledge of nucleos(t)ide analogs medications (all P<0.05). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that higher parity, later postpartum timing of stopping nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment, and lacking knowledge of medication were independent factors associated with incompliance to breastfeeding. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers with later postpartum timing of stopping nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment and less knowledge of medication were more likely to incompliance to breastfeeding recommendation. Strengthening health education may be an important method to improve compliance to breastfeeding.