title: Breast-feeding incidence and duration in black and white women.
abstract: The influence of sociodemographic factors on the incidence and duration of breast-feeding was evaluated in 668 black and 511 white women delivering their first child in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. Breast-feeding rates were 84% among white and 49% among black women. Maternal educational level was strongly associated with breast-feeding, whereas the effect of ethnicity was moderate. Women with some college or some graduate school education had adjusted odds of breast-feeding that were 2.6 (95% confidence limit 1.9 to 3.7) and 5.2 (95% confidence limit 2.7 to 10.2) times higher than women with a high school education or less. In contrast, the adjusted odds of breast-feeding were 2.0 (95% confidence limit 1.4 to 3.1) times higher for white women compared with black women. The odds of breast-feeding increased among black women if they attended childbirth classes, were married, or were older. Among black women, the frequency of breast-feeding decreased sharply by 1 month postpartum. Breast-feeding duration for black v white women was 74% v 90% at 1 month, 44% v 72% at 4 months, and 26% v 50% at 7 months postpartum. The majority of black women (53%) used formula supplements in the hospital, which was the only factor significantly related to a shortened duration in this group (P less than .01). The high rate of formula supplementation among black women and its strong association with shortened duration of breast-feeding point to a need for more advice and support and less reliance on formula during the hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurinij
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Shiono
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Rhoads
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D008393:Marriage; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*