Factors influencing feeding decisions of black and white mothers of preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the factors involved in mothers' decisions to provide breast milk for their premature infants and to determine if these factors differ between Black and White mothers.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data from 2 primary studies at 2 time points within 2 days of hospital admission (T1) and just before discharge (T2).


METHODS
Urban level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the eastern United States.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 80 mothers, 34 White and 46 Black, who delivered a singleton infant less than 30 weeks' gestation.


METHODS
Mother-focused and infant-focused factors involved in the decision to breastfeed or formula feed as measured by the Preterm Infant Feeding Survey.


RESULTS
Infant-focused scores ranked higher than mother-focused scores at T1. Mother-focused scores ranked higher than infant-focused scores at T2. Between T1 and T2, the increase in mother-focused scores and the decrease in infant-focused scores were significant. There were no significant differences between the Black and White mothers' scores at either time point.


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers' focus on factors that impact their feeding decisions change over time from their infant to themselves. Additionally, no differences were noted between the Black and White mothers.
Dowling
Donna A
DA
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. dad10@case.edu
Shapiro
Jennifer
J
Burant
Christopher J
CJ
Elfettoh
Amel Abou
AA
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American