Association of Maternal Preferred Language with Breastfeeding Attitudes, Intentions, and Knowledge.

INTRODUCTION: Assessing intentions, attitudes, and knowledge about breastfeeding among different language groups is important because the languages reflect cultural differences. We compared attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intentions, and knowledge of breastfeeding among mothers with the five most common preferred languages spoken at a New York City hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed women (n = 448) in the prenatal clinic and the post-partum unit of a New York City hospital. The survey questions were about breastfeeding attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and intentions, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. We also administered the Iowa Infant Feeding and Attitude Scale and measured the knowledge of the mothers about breastfeeding. The preferred language spoken by the mother was the main predictor variable. English, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Uzbek were the languages studied. RESULTS: Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that Russian (B = 2.24, SE = 1.09, p = 0.04), Urdu (B = 2.90, SE = 1.45, p = 0.046), and Uzbek (B = 4.21, SE = 1.35, p = 0.002) speakers all had significantly more positive attitudes toward breastfeeding than did English speakers. Spanish and English language speakers did not differ from each other in their attitudes towards breastfeeding. The language groups did not differ significantly for subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention to breastfeed, the Iowa Infant Feeding and Attitude Scale, nor in knowledge regarding breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: Urdu, Uzbek, and Russian speakers had significantly more positive attitudes towards breastfeeding than did English speakers. To the extent that preferred language is a proxy for culture, clinicians can use this parameter as a basis for directing approaches toward lactation education.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum in a Healthy Pediatric Patient.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare condition, especially in children with no predisposing factors. In the vast majority of patients, this condition is benign and self-limiting; however, there is always the possibility that serious and potentially life-threatening complications such as mediastinitis or cardiac tamponade could arise. Early recognition, prompt diagnosis, and appropriate management allow for ideal care and prevent unnecessary and excessive investigations in these patients. An eight-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department with SPM after swimming and no known predisposing lung conditions. The probable causative event was likely to be pressure changes in the alveoli during swimming. This is notable because the patient's SPM occurred in the absence of an underlying cause such as asthma. The patient was admitted overnight for monitoring and pain control. The symptoms resolved the following day, along with a decrease in the size of the SPM on the chest X-ray. Physicians should be aware of the signs of SPM in young patients who present with chest pain in the absence of trauma or pulmonic disease. A review of literature highlighted the pathophysiology and recommended treatment course for similar cases.