1. Breastfeeding: How is it related to food insecurity and other factors among low-income mothers?
- Author
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Frazier, Christina M., Dharod, Jigna, Labban, Jeff, Raynor, A. Nichole, Villasenor, Miguel, Hernandez, Marlen, and Ramos-Castillo, Isa
- Subjects
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MOTHERS , *ATTITUDES toward breastfeeding , *FOOD security , *CROSS-sectional method , *INTERVIEWING , *FISHER exact test , *RACE , *INCOME , *SELF-efficacy , *INFORMED consent (Medical law) , *BREASTFEEDING , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHI-squared test , *SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC factors , *DATA analysis software , *LONGITUDINAL method , *EDUCATIONAL attainment - Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted to (1) examine breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates, and; (2) investigate association between food insecurity and breastfeeding status, among low-income mothers. Mothers of infants two-months or younger were recruited from a local pediatric clinic serving primarily low-income families. Upon giving consent, mothers were interviewed in-person or over the phone in either English or Spanish. Of the total 92 mothers interviewed, 90% initiated breastfeeding, but only 24% were doing exclusive breastfeeding at 2 months of infant's age. After controlling for socio-demographics, it was found that food-insecure mothers were less likely to continue with breastfeeding (β = −1.51, p =.024). Future research is warranted to understand pathways through which food insecurity affects breastfeeding and how this disparity can be prevented to ensure a safe and secure start for infants worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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