Duration of breastfeeding among first-time mothers in the United States: Results of a national survey

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 95; no. 8; pp. 980 - 984
• Main Authors: Taylor, Julie Scott, Risica, Patricia Markham, Geller, Lauren, Kirtania, Usree, Cabral, Howard J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2006; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bottle-feeding; Breast Feeding - statistics & numerical data; breastfeeding; Female; General aspects; Health Surveys; Humans; infant nutrition; Maternal Age; Maternal Behavior; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Postpartum Period; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Reproductive History; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors; United States; weaning; United States; North America; America; Human; Pediatrics; Nutrition; Weaning; Infant; Duration; Breast feeding; Feeding; Result; infant nutrition; Mother; Diet; breastfeeding; Infant formula; Bottle-feeding; Parity; Public health
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1080/08035250600750064

Aim: To determine the characteristics of primiparous women who breastfeed for only short periods of time. Methods: The 2002 National Survey of Family Growth was used to analyze the characteristics of a national probability sample of 3229 first‐time US mothers aged 15 to 44 y with children ages 1 to 18 y old, 1960 of whom breastfed. Main outcome measures in the cross‐sectional study included breastfeeding at birth and at 3 mo as determined by in‐person, computer‐assisted interviews conducted by trained female interviewers. Results: Sixty‐two percent of first‐time mothers with singleton live births initiated any breastfeeding and 36% were still breastfeeding at 3 mo. Those who were older, married, and at higher educational levels were significantly more likely to continue breastfeeding beyond 3 mo. These same demographic factors were associated with differences in breastfeeding rates both early (within the first week of life) and consistently over the first 3 mo. In multivariate analyses, only educational level remained as a predictor of breastfeeding.
Conclusion: Targeted breastfeeding interventions for young, single, less‐educated women are warranted in a culturally sensitive context, both prenatally and immediately postpartum, to improve the duration of breastfeeding among first‐time mothers in the US.