The role of breastfeeding support in racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices.
Prev Med
; 179: 107857, 2024 Feb.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38224744
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Persistent racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices in the United States are well documented but the underlying causes remain unclear. While racial/ethnic disparities are often intertwined with socioeconomic disparities in breastfeeding, studies suggest that lack of breastfeeding support from family, health care organizations and workplaces may contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding rates. No studies have investigated the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices can be explained by breastfeeding support.METHODS:
We used survey data from participants of a federal nutrition assistance program in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States, to examine causal mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding in five groups Spanish-speaking Latina, English-speaking Latina, Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Non-Hispanic Asian (NHA). Applying causal mediation analysis, this study estimated the proportion of racial/ethnic differences in breastfeeding ('any' breastfeeding, i.e., partial or exclusive) rates at 6 months that could be explained by differential access to breastfeeding support from family, birth hospitals and workplaces.RESULTS:
NHB and English-speaking Latina mothers were less likely, and Spanish-speaking Latina mothers more likely to breastfeed through 6 months than NHW mothers. Lack of breastfeeding support from family, hospitals and workplaces accounted for approximately 68% of the difference in any breastfeeding rates at 6 months between NHW and NHB mothers and 36% of the difference between NHW and English-speaking Latina mothers.CONCLUSION:
These findings highlight the importance of improving support from family, hospitals and workplaces for breastfeeding mothers to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding.Mots clés
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Allaitement naturel
/
Ethnies
/
Aspects:
Equity_inequality
Limites:
Female
/
Humans
Pays/Région comme sujet:
America do norte
Langue:
En
Journal:
Prev Med
Année:
2024
Type de document:
Article
Pays de publication:
États-Unis d'Amérique