Breastfeeding Among Low-Income, High-risk Women

Abstract

Data from a state supported project providing multidiscipline (clinical social work, nursing, nutrition, obstetrics, and pediatrics) assistance to low-income women judged to be at high perinatal risk by medical and social history were analyzed regarding infant feeding decisions. Data from 2,124 subjects delivered from 1976 to 1985 were available for analysis. The population tended to be single (77%), black (66%), poorly educated (63% less than a high school education), and young (mean age 21.8 years). Thirty-six percent were primiparas. The decision to breastfeed was associated with white race, older maternal age, higher educational level, marriage, and earlier utilization of prenatal care.Prenatal infant feeding plans were compared with actual postpartum decisions for 1,168 women. Only 3 percent of those initially planning to bottle feed changed their minds postpartum and breastfed although 31 percent of those initially planning to nurse ultimately chose artificial feeding. Ten percent of women were initially undecided; one-third of this group ultimately breastfed, two-thirds bottle fed.

Does Maternal Smoking Have a Negative Physiological Effect on Breastfeeding? The Epidemiological Evidence

“…Only four studies did not report a significant difference in initiation rate between smokers and nonsmokers: a United States study of “high‐risk” women with a mean age of 21.8 years ( n =2124), of whom 50 percent smoked during pregnancy and approximately 20 percent initiated breastfeeding (34); a survey of 330 women in Geneva, who had a 93 percent breastfeeding initiation rate (35); and a study of 77 women in a Mohawk community, of whom 50 percent smoked (36). A study of more than 4000 women in South Carolina in 1960–1961 found no relationship between smoking and method of infant feeding (37).…”

Psychosocial Predictors of Primiparous Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration

“…32, 33 Age, household income-to-needs ratio, education, partner status and race were measured prenatally via demographic questionnaires. Maternal employment and infant gender were recorded via demographic questionnaires when infants were six-months.…”

Intention to Breastfeed in Low‐Income Pregnant Women: The Role of Social Support and Previous Experience

“…Demographic characteristics positively associated with breastfeeding include non-African American ethnicity (6,7), higher educational attainment (8,9), older maternal age (6,8), and being married (8,10). However, inconsistent, incomplete, and incon-clusive information exists regarding the relationship between breastfeeding intention and parity (6,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15), earlier use of prenatal care services (16), and previous breastfeeding experience (14).…”