Barriers: Reasons Kansas WIC clients identified for stopping breastfeeding

Introduction or background

In some areas and population segments of the U.S., breastfeeding initiation and duration are nearing goal levels. This is not the case for low-income mothers, as the income level of the mother is significantly and negatively associated with the odds of formula use at hospital discharge. Kansas WIC data from 2003 reveal a 61.7% breastfeeding initiation rate, with only 38.8% continuing to breastfeed after 1+ week. The rate drops further to 19.6% prevalence of breastfeeding at 6 months by WIC mothers.

Design/methodology

Through the use of the Breastfeeding Reasons Questionnaire, administered in either English or Spanish, 329 Kansas WIC clients (40% Hispanic) in six counties who recently quit breastfeeding identified and weighted their reasons for discontinuing.

Evaluation/results

The chi-square test for independence was used to assess relationship of 37 reasons for discontinuing breastfeeding with selected demographic variables and duration of breastfeeding. Spearman's rho was used to determine the strength of that relationship, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated to determine the likelihood of each reason for discontinuing having an impact on the duration of breastfeeding.

Ten reasons for discontinuing, including “breastfeeding was difficult” and “breastfeeding made me feel frustrated/unhappy” were significantly (P <0.01) related to lower breastfeeding duration. Different reasons mattered to participants who breastfed less than two months than to those who breastfed two months or longer.

Discussion

Breastfeeding mothers sharing demographic attributes may consider stopping breastfeeding for similar reasons, providing a basis for targeted education materials and focused campaigns that effectively increase breastfeeding duration in this low-income population.