Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among Low-Income Women in Alabama: The Importance of Personal and Familial Experiences in Making Infant-Feeding Choices

Abstract

To gain perspective on breastfeeding initiation and duration among poor women in the southeastern United States, the authors interviewed a random sample of 150 mothers (93% African American) at a county health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Forty-one percent of women initiated breastfeeding, 24% breastfed for at least 1 month, and 8.3% breastfed for 3 months or more. Initiation of breastfeeding was positively associated with the mother having been breastfed herself and having breastfed a previous infant, and negatively associated with premature delivery. Breastfeeding at 1 month was more likely among older women and women with close relatives who breastfed. Duration of breastfeeding beyond 1 month was associated only with the mother having been breastfed and having breastfed a previous infant. Maternal and familial breastfeeding experiences eliminated the effect of more distal factors, such as income or education, on some feeding decisions. The strong influence of breastfeeding experiences must be considered in infant feeding interventions.

Modified Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool: Prenatal and Postpartum Tests

“…This finding is consistent with studies that identify the importance of support from family members (Humenick, Hill, Thompson, & Hart, 1998;Humenick et al, 1997;Myerink & Marquis, 2002) and the effectiveness of programs using peer counselors . Thus, it would be helpful to know if new mothers have such a person and whether the mother views this person (or these people) as supportive.…”

Predicting Breastfeeding Duration Related to Maternal Attitudes in a Taiwanese Sample

“…The women in our study also reported that family members, in general, were a source of support for their infant-feeding decisions. Our finding is consistent with results from other studies that emphasize the importance of support from family members in a mother's decision to initiate and continue breastfeeding (Evans, Dick, Lewallen, & Jeffrey, 2004;Lewallen et al, 2006;Meyerink & Marquis, 2002).…”

Assessing Infant Breastfeeding Beliefs Among Low-Income Mexican Americans

“…In the current study, support from older women who had breastfed was seen as beneficial in promoting breastfeeding. This supports the recommendation from Meyerink and Marquis (2002) that a surrogate materThe knowledge of benefits to the mother and the baby did not overcome the perceived problems that breastfeeding would create, such as embarrassment, pain, and inconvenience.…”

“…Caucasian women rely on their husbands or friends, whereas women of other ethnicities turn to close friends and relatives (Black et al, 1998). Meyerink and Marquis (2002) interviewed 150 mothers in Alabama (93% were African American women). They found that women who breastfed longer were breastfed themselves as infants and had added family support, particularly from their mothers.…”