Scientific Meeting 2023 - Lightning Talks Day 2

Tuesday, March 14
11:40am to 12:45pm

Presenter: Kaeli C. Johnson

Breastfeeding Initiation and Information Sources by Race

Johnson, Kaeli, C.; Baal Balasundaram, Rohit; Akpan, Idara, N.; Griner, Stacey, B.

Purpose: Breastfeeding can mitigate infant complications such as respiratory diseases and infant mortality. Black women have lower breastfeeding initiation compared to other races. Social factors, like breastfeeding information sources, are associated with improved breastfeeding initiation, but little research examines racial differences. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of race in breastfeeding initiation and sources of breastfeeding information.

Methods: This secondary analysis project used the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Phase 8 Core Questionnaire Research File (2016-2020) (n=180,432). The outcome variables of interest were breastfeeding initiation (yes/no) and information sources (doctor, lactation specialist, family, or friends, etc.,), and the independent variable was race (Black, White, other). Confounding variables were sociodemographic factors like age, income, and education. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4.

Results: Black women had significant lower (p < .0001) breastfeeding initiation rates (79.4%) compared to White (89.8%), Asian and Native Hawaiian (93.7%), American Indian and Alaska Native (82.9%), Other (90.8%), and Mixed Race (90.4%) groups. Black women had higher odds of receiving information from breastfeeding hotlines (OR=1.878; 95% CI: 1.813-1.945) or their doctor (OR= 1.6; 95% CI: 1.556-1.661), compared to White women (p < .0001). Black women also had lower odds of receiving breastfeeding information from a lactation specialist (OR= 0.884; 95% CI: 0.860-0.909) or family or friends (OR= 0.851; 95% CI: 0.830-0.872) compared to White women (p < .0001).

Conclusion: Findings indicate that Black women use breastfeeding hotlines and their doctors as information sources more than White women but have lower odds of using lactation specialists or family and friends as resources. Interventions should focus on Black women’s preferred sources to relay accurate, evidence-based breastfeeding information. Future studies should explore the role of lactation specialists and familial resources to increase breastfeeding initiation among Black women while considering the historical context.