Birth and breastfeeding dynamics in a modernizing indigenous community.
BACKGROUND
Changes in health care access and birthing practices may pose barriers to optimal breastfeeding in modernizing rural populations.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated temporal and maternal age-related trends in birth and breastfeeding in a modernizing Maya agriculturalist community. We tested 2 hypotheses: (1) home births would be associated with better breastfeeding outcomes than hospital births, and (2) vaginal births would be associated with better breastfeeding outcomes than cesarean births.


METHODS
We interviewed 58 Maya mothers (ages 21-85) regarding their births and breastfeeding practices. General linear models were used to evaluate trends in birthing practices and breastfeeding outcomes (timing of breastfeeding initiation, use of infant formula, age of introduction of complementary feeding, and breastfeeding duration). We then compared breastfeeding outcomes by location (home or hospital) and mode of birth (vaginal or cesarean).


RESULTS
Timing of breastfeeding initiation and the rate of formula feeding both increased significantly over time. Younger mothers introduced complementary foods earlier, breastfed for shorter durations, and formula fed more than older mothers. Vaginal hospital births were associated with earlier breastfeeding initiation and longer breastfeeding durations than home births. Cesarean births were associated with later breastfeeding initiation, shorter breastfeeding durations, and more formula feeding than vaginal hospital births.


CONCLUSIONS
We have observed temporal and maternal age-related trends toward suboptimal breastfeeding patterns in the Maya community. Contrary to our first hypothesis, hospital births per se were not associated with negative breastfeeding outcomes. In support of our second hypothesis, cesarean versus vaginal births were associated with negative breastfeeding outcomes.
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA amanda.veile@dartmouth.edu.
Amanda
A
Veile
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Karen
K
Kramer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology / Q000639:trends*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
Maya; Mexico; barriers; birth; breastfeeding; indigenous; infant