Energy Consumption during Lactation and Duration of Breastfeeding At Puskesmas Margajaya Bekasi City in 2014

Despite recommendation for higher energy intake during lactation than during pregnancy, researches at Jakarta and Depok showed that energy consumption during lactation was lower than during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between individual characteristics and energy consumption during lactation, and to assess the relationship between energy consumption during lactation to duration of breastfeeding among 60 mothers in the working area of PuskesmasMargajayaBekasi City in 2014. This research used a cross-sectional design; data was collected through primary data collection by questionnaire and Semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Analysis was conducted using chi-square technique. The study found that mothers of sufficient age (>27 years old), multiparous, and had low (<2,100 kcal/day) energy intake during pregnancy had significant higher risk to low energy consumption during lactation. Mothers with low energy consumption during lactation had 4 times higher risk of short duration of breastfeeding. It is recommended to provide information on the importance of higher energy intake during lactation due to the higher need to support breastmilk production and also to shift forward the nutrition recommendation regarding additional energy intake during lactation period from month 6 to month 4 due to higher energy requirement that commences when lactating mothers enter the fourth month of lactation.