title: Infant-feeding practices of low-income Vietnamese American women.
abstract: Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding goals include 50% exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months. In California, US, Santa Clara County Women, Infants, and Children (SCCWIC) data indicated Asian participants had low (5.6%) 6-month breastfeeding rates. To examine infant-feeding practices, Vietnamese breastfeeding peer counselors surveyed 133 Vietnamese SCCWIC participants (> or= 18 years old, nonpregnant, < 28 months postpartum) using a structured questionnaire regarding intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms toward breastfeeding. Results indicated that 75% initiated breastfeeding in the hospital (33% exclusively, 42% partially), and 25% exclusively formula fed. At survey time, 49% had terminated breastfeeding (average duration 4.4 months). Feeding intentions during pregnancy predicted feeding method used (P < .001). Most prenatal advice was from SCCWIC employees, friends, and doctors who supported breastfeeding. Most postnatal advice was from nurses who supported breastfeeding and bottle-feeding equally. Stronger control beliefs, peer counseling, and education were correlated with breastfeeding (P < .001). Improved postdelivery hospital advice may further increase breastfeeding initiation and duration.
authors.affiliation: Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Yashmi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Clarie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hollenbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty; D011632:Public Assistance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult