Racial and Ethnic Differences in Reasons for Breastfeeding Cessation Among Women Participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

Introduction Breastfeeding rates among women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are lower compared with those of nonparticipants. The objective of this study was to assess racial and ethnic differences in self-reported reasons for breastfeeding cessation during the first year postpartum. Methods This was a secondary analysis of data from women participating in the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2. Women specified reasons that influenced their decision to stop breastfeeding during telephone interviews between 1 and 13 months postpartum. Logistic regression models for each racial and ethnic group explored the effects of sociodemographic variables on each reason. Results The sample for this analysis included 4095 women (34.1% non-Hispanic white, 25.5% non-Hispanic black, and 40.4% Hispanic). Across all race and ethnic groups, food security status was a predictor of some but not all reasons for breastfeeding cessation. Compared with their counterparts who were food secure, white women with low food security and black women with very low food security were more likely (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.04-3.35 and OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.19-2.90, respectively) to stop breastfeeding because they wanted or needed someone else to feed their infants. Hispanic women with very low food security were more likely to stop breastfeeding because they felt they did not have enough milk. Compared with their multiparous counterparts, primiparous black and white women were almost twice as likely to stop breastfeeding because of trouble sucking or latching. Hispanic and black women born outside the United States had significantly higher odds of breastfeeding cessation because of the infant losing interest compared with US-born women. Education and marital status significantly predicted reasons for breastfeeding cessation among Hispanic and white women. Discussion Among women participating in WIC, food security, parity, country of birth, education, and marital status were significant predictors of reasons for breastfeeding cessation across racial and /ethnic groups. Incorporating these findings in education, counseling, and interventions may help overcome breastfeeding barriers.