Country of origin and race/ethnicity: impact on breastfeeding intentions.
This article reports on breastfeeding intentions of Hispanic and black women by country of origin (continental US born or foreign born) in a low-income population that has experienced demographic shifts. Data were derived from prenatal interviews with 382 women from 2 community clinics. Primary outcome measures were intentions to formula feed, breastfeed, or formula and breastfeed. Foreign-born women were significantly more likely to intend to only breastfeed (42% vs 24% for continental US born, P < .05). In multivariate analyses, country of origin and having breastfed a previous child were the only significant predictors of breastfeeding intention. In contrast to previous work, black (non-Hispanic) and Hispanic women's breastfeeding plans were similar. This finding coincides with dramatic increases in the numbers of blacks from West Indian countries-where breastfeeding is the norm-in the study locale.
Bonuck
Karen A
KA
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, the Bronx, New York 10467, USA.
Freeman
Kathy
K
Trombley
Michelle
M
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American