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Factors associated with intention to breastfeed among low-income, inner-city pregnant women
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Factors associated with intention to breastfeed among low-income, inner-city pregnant women

Helen J Lee, Margarita R Rubio, Irma T Elo, Kelly F McCollum, Esther K Chung and Jennifer F Culhane
Maternal and child health journal, v 9(3), pp 253-261
01 Sep 2005
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-005-0008-5
PMID: 16283532
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

OBJECTIVESTo examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors, maternal characteristics, and intention to breastfeed among low-income, inner-city pregnant women.METHODSEnglish and Spanish speaking low-income women recruited from local Philadelphia health centers were surveyed at the time of their first prenatal care visit. At the time of the visit, respondents were asked whether or not they planned to breastfeed their infant. The responses of 2,690 women were included in these analyses. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent associations of race/ethnicity, nativity status, education, and other factors on the odds of intending to breastfeed.RESULTSAbout half (53%) of the respondents reported that they intended to breastfeed their infant. In adjusted logistic regression models, immigrant black (adjusted OR [aOR] 5.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.86, 8.77), other Hispanic (who were predominantly foreign-born) (aOR 6.05; 95% CI 3.92, 9.33), and island-born Puerto Rican (aOR 3.48; 95% CI 2.04, 5.95) women were significantly more likely to report that they intended to breastfeed than non-Hispanic whites. Somewhat surprisingly, non-Hispanic, US-born African Americans in this low-income sample were more likely to report that they intended to breastfeed than non-Hispanic white respondents (aOR 1.59; 95% CI 1.20, 2.11). Lower education, not living with the baby's father, multiparous pregnancy, and smoking were negatively and independently associated with intention to breastfeed. Maternal age, household income, public housing, and depressive symptoms were not significant predictors of breastfeeding intention in adjusted multivariate models.CONCLUSIONSSignificant differences were documented in breastfeeding intention in our sample of low-income, inner-city women. Most notable was the higher likelihood of anticipated breastfeeding among our immigrant sub-groups when compared with non-Hispanic white women. An unexpected finding was the higher likelihood of anticipated breastfeeding among native-born, non-Hispanic African American women than among non-Hispanic white respondents. Because intentions are important predictors of future behavior, more focus needs to be directed towards breastfeeding promotion during the prenatal period and towards a better understanding of why some mothers intend to breastfeed while others do not.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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