288914
Sociobehavioral determinants of breastfeeding at 6 months among first time Pennsylvania mothers
Junjia Zhu, PhD,
Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Carol S. Weisman, PhD,
Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
While breastfeeding has a number of benefits for child and mother, first time mothers in Pennsylvania are a unique population. The objective of this study is to examine sociobehavioral determinants of breastfeeding 6 months after birth among these women. Baseline, 1 month postpartum, and 6 month postpartum data from First Baby Study first time mothers who initiated breastfeeding were used (N=2,754). Multivariate logistic regressions were fit modeling breastfeeding 6 months after birth on prepartum behaviors, social factors, mother's health, and a full model of all sociobehavioral determinants and demographic covariates. Independently, significant prepartum behaviors were intent to breastfeed {OR(95% CI) = 4.82(3.93-5.93)} and gestational weight beyond recommendation {.70(.59-.83)}, while significant social factors included reporting trouble meeting basic needs during study period {.68(.56-.83)}, having public insurance ({.41(.31-.53)}; mother in service or labor occupations {.63(.49-.81); .78(.62-.98)}; and not being in poverty {1.51(1.13-2.03)}. Significant mother's health indicators included not having pregnancy complications {1.32(1.13-1.53)}, mother returning to the hospital in the one month since birth {.50(.26-.94)}, and number of prepartum depression symptoms suggesting further monitoring or need for professional referral {.69(.50-.96); .57(.37-.86)}. Once combined into a more efficient model, intent to breastfeed {5.03(4.06-6.23)}, gestational weight beyond recommendation {.73(.61-.88)}, trouble meeting basic needs {.67(.55-.82)}, public insurance {.51(.38-.67)}, prepartum depression symptoms suggesting professional referral {.57(.36-.90)}, mother's age {1.04(1.02-1.07)}, and being Hispanic {.52(.34-.79)} were significant predictors of breastfeeding 6 months after birth. Recommendations for best practices to encourage breastfeeding in this unique population are discussed.
Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Learning Objectives:
Describe sociobehavioral determinants of breastfeeding among first time mothers in Pennsylvania.
Keyword(s): Breastfeeding, Maternal and Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted a number of analyses regarding health behaviors associated with breast cancer among vulnerable populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.