Racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. breastfeeding and implications for maternal and child health outcomes

Louis‐Jacques, Adetola; Deubel, Tara F.; Taylor, Melina; Stuebe, Alison M.

doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2017.04.007

Cited by 71 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Taken together, this study justifies additional investigation of racial and ethnic disparities in hospital breastfeeding support to improve breastfeeding among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. With regard to long term health, the racial disparity in breastfeeding may have important implications for other outcomes, such as breast cancer and obesity, for which breastfeeding is a modifiable risk factor and which disproportionately affect individuals of non‐white races and ethnicities …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Hospital Breastfeeding Support by Maternal Race and Ethnicity: A Pilot Study

Sipsma

Rabinowitz

Young

et al. 2019

J Midwife Womens Health

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Introduction The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are evidence‐based practices used to improve breastfeeding outcomes, and most are to be implemented shortly after birth. Although breastfeeding is increasing in the United States, racial disparities persist. Available national samples used to examine trends in maternity care rely on maternal recall, which may be subject to error and bias. Thus, we conducted a pilot study to determine the feasibility of a large‐scale study conducted during the birth hospitalization to explore patterns in practices supporting breastfeeding across maternal racial and ethnic groups. Methods A convenience sample of 37 women with healthy, term singletons who intended to breastfeed were recruited from 2 academic medical centers (one in the Midwest and the other in the Pacific Northeast) and surveyed during their birth hospitalizations between July and November 2016. Women were asked whether they received the 7 steps that are recommended to be implemented shortly after birth (eg, encourage breastfeeding on demand). We generated descriptive statistics and conducted independent chi‐square tests to determine associations between self‐reported exposure to these 7 practices and race and ethnicity. Results In this sample, 23 women (62.2%) were non‐Hispanic white, 5 (13.5%) were non‐Hispanic black, and 6 (16.2%) were Hispanic. Approximately 26 (70.3%) reported experiencing at least 6 of the 7 practices. Non‐Hispanic white women were significantly more likely to room‐in with their newborns, were less likely to receive formula, and were less likely to receive pacifiers than women of other races and ethnicities (P < .05). Furthermore, differences in exposure to practices by maternal race/ethnicity appeared more pronounced at one center than the other. Discussion Preliminary findings suggest that some practices used to improve breastfeeding may be provided inconsistently across maternal racial and ethnic groups. Additional investigation is needed to further explore these patterns and to identify reasons for any inconsistencies in order to reduce health disparities in the United States.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Hospital Breastfeeding Support by Maternal Race and Ethnicity: A Pilot Study

Sipsma

Rabinowitz

Young

et al. 2019

J Midwife Womens Health

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“…Findings from our study reiterate the detrimental effects of the early cessation of breastfeeding and early introduction of formula feeding in infants before the age of 1 year (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, ). Significant challenges to breastfeeding in U.S. mothers include pain, low breastfeeding self‐efficacy, and a lack of support when returning to work (Kuehn, ; Louis‐Jacques et al, ; Lucas & McGrath, ). Suboptimal breastfeeding rates are influenced by social determinants of health and reflect breastfeeding disparities by race/ethnicity and other sociodemographic factors (Louis‐Jacques et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Longitudinal studies focusing on minority groups will inform practice and help design interventions that are tailored to the cultural values and specific needs of these groups. Other critical areas of research include infant feeding behaviors among migrant groups or in situations of extreme vulnerability such as environmental disasters (Louis‐Jacques et al, ).…”

Section: Implications For Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interventions on early initiation and continued breastfeeding across settings (i.e., inpatient, out‐patient, work, and community) should be delivered concurrently (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, ). Breastfeeding education should start during prenatal appointments and continue throughout the postpartum periods, at the hospital and after being discharged (Louis‐Jacques et al, ). In the postpartum period, nurses’ intervention to promote breastfeeding should include the importance of skin‐to‐skin contact, explaining the concept of on demand breastfeeding and providing training on the use of breast pumps (Louis‐Jacques et al, ).…”

Section: Implications For Public Health Nursingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Breastfeeding education should start during prenatal appointments and continue throughout the postpartum periods, at the hospital and after being discharged (Louis‐Jacques et al, ). In the postpartum period, nurses’ intervention to promote breastfeeding should include the importance of skin‐to‐skin contact, explaining the concept of on demand breastfeeding and providing training on the use of breast pumps (Louis‐Jacques et al, ). Healthcare professionals’ support beyond the inpatient hospital should include consultations with lactation consultants at home, in pediatrician offices, workplaces, and childcare facilities as well as referrals to lactation support organizations (La Leche League).…”

Section: Implications For Public Health Nursingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feeding modes, duration, and diarrhea in infancy: Continued evidence of the protective effects of breastfeeding

Diallo

McGlothen-Bell

Lucas

et al. 2019

Public Health Nursing

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Objectives To evaluate the effect of early breastfeeding cessation on incidence of diarrhea in a cohort of U.S. infants. Design, Sample, and Measurements A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from 2,340 mother–infant dyads participating in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. We examined associations between duration of feeding type (e.g., exclusive breastfeeding [EBF], any breastfeeding [BF], formula feeding) and incidence of diarrhea before one year. Results The sample included mother–infant dyads that were 86.2% White, 3% Black, and 5% Hispanic. Interruption of EBF before 3 months was significantly associated with higher odds of having diarrhea at 6 months (OR = 1.80, p value ≤ 0.01) and between 6 and 12 months (OR = 1.45, p ≤ .01). Breastfeeding interruption before 6 months was associated with higher odds of having diarrhea at 6 months (OR = 3.19, p ≤ .01). Formula feeding for ≥3 months was associated with higher odds of diarrhea between 6 and 12 months. Conclusions Exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months accompanied by any breastfeeding for 6 months provided the most protective effect against diarrhea. Public health interventions should address disparities in breastfeeding practices and provide support across clinical, workplace and community settings. Research should include more diverse population groups.

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Race/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Obesity

Krueger

Bayerman

Reither

2022

International Handbook of the Demography of Obesity

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Racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. breastfeeding and implications for maternal and child health outcomes

Cited by 71 publications

References 62 publications

Exposure to Hospital Breastfeeding Support by Maternal Race and Ethnicity: A Pilot Study

Exposure to Hospital Breastfeeding Support by Maternal Race and Ethnicity: A Pilot Study

Feeding modes, duration, and diarrhea in infancy: Continued evidence of the protective effects of breastfeeding

Race/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Obesity

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