The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #52344

Tania W.H. Tang, MPH, School of Public Health, Epidemiology/Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, 510-381-3623, taniawt@uclink.berkeley.edu, Barbara F Abrams, DrPH, RD, School of Public Health, Division of Public Health Biology and Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, and Steve Selvin, PhD, School of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in the United States have yet to achieve Healthy People 2010 objectives, and racial disparities have been reported. We examined whether breastfeeding initiation and duration to six months postpartum differed by four maternal race-ethnicity groups, identified predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration, and assessed reasons reported for discontinuing breastfeeding before and after six months postpartum in a military population.

A cross-sectional study based on maternal retrospective assessment of infant feeding practices was used to evaluate breastfeeding initiation and duration among white, African-American, Asian, and Hispanic women who received well-baby care for their infants at the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) between April 1997 and December 1999. Medical record abstraction provided additional data not included on self-report questionnaires.

Racial differences in rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration were not found. Overall, four out of five women initiated breastfeeding, and two out of five women continued to breastfeed to at least six months after delivery. Factors significantly associated with breastfeeding initiation were college attendance, income, and infant birthweight. Maternal age, height, gestational weight gain, smoking postpartum, and WIC participation postpartum significantly influenced breastfeeding duration to at least six months following delivery. Reasons for stopping breastfeeding varied by race and by time postpartum.

Although no racial-ethnic differences were found for breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, overall rates were remarkably higher than national averages, which may reflect the unique nature of a military population. The effects of breastfeeding promotion practices, the military environment, and WIC participation are considered.

Learning Objectives:

• List factors associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration beyond six months postpartum in a multi-ethnic population.
• Discuss the role of race-ethnicity in breastfeeding behavior in a military population.
• Identify reasons for discontinuing breastfeeding as reported by mothers who initiated breastfeeding.
• Assess current strengths and limitations in breastfeeding research in a military population.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Ethnicity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is noted in the breastfeeding duration results.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.