Original articleBreastfeeding Behavior Among Adolescents: Initiation, Duration, and Exclusivity
Section snippets
Sample
We derived data from this study from a cohort of pregnant adolescent females and their partners, who were observed from pregnancy through 6 months postpartum. Couples were recruited between July 2007 and February 2011 from obstetrics and gynecology clinics in four university-affiliated hospitals in Connecticut. Research staff provided informational materials to the female and asked her to discuss the study with her partner if he was not present. Young women ages 14–21 years, who were in their
Sample characteristics
Approximately 42% of female participants were <19 years of age at baseline, and 85% had education appropriate for age (Table 1). Forty percent of the sample was non-Hispanic black, 42% was Hispanic, and 18% was non-Hispanic white or another race/ethnicity. At baseline, approximately 43% were in school, 27% were employed, 74% received public assistance from WIC, and almost 80% were expecting their first baby.
Breastfeeding experiences and behavior
During pregnancy, 75% of female participants reported intending to breastfeed and 81% of
Discussion
Breastfeeding initiation rates among this sample population were higher than expected based on national data; however, rates fell short of the Healthy People 2020 goal of more than 80% [1]. Breastfeeding duration, on the other hand, was markedly short. Only 11% were breastfeeding at the 6-month visit, well below the Healthy People 2020 goal of more than 60% and national rates of 20% [1]. Among participants who initiated breastfeeding but had stopped by the 6-month postpartum visit, the average
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by Grant 1R01MH75685 from the National Institutes of Mental Health.
References (40)
- et al.
Breast-feeding attitudes attitudes and practices among adolescents
J Adoelsc Health Care
(1989) - et al.
African-American and Latina adolescent mothers' infant feeding decisions and breastfeeding practices: A qualitative study
J Adolesc Health
(2000) - et al.
Breastfeeding experiences of urban adolescent mothers
J Pediatr Nurs
(2009) - et al.
Factors influencing breast-feeding among adolescents
J Adolesc Health Care
(1988) - et al.
Factors that positively influence breastfeeding duration to 6 months: A literature review
Women Birth
(2010) Breastfeeding initiation and duration: A 1990–2000 literature review
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs
(2002)- et al.
Provider encouragement of breast-feeding: Evidence from a national survey
Obstet Gynecol
(2001) - et al.
Infant feeding practices of low-income, African-American, adolescent mothers: An ecological multigenerational perspective
Soc Sci Med
(1999) - et al.
Adolescence: A foundation for future health
Lancet
(2012) Breastfeeding and the use of human milk
Pediatrics
(2012)
Births: Final data for 2010
Natl Vital Stat Rep
Barriers to breastfeeding among African American adolescent mothers
Clin Pediatr
Adolescent attitudes, beliefs, and concerns
MCN
Breastfeeding behaviors and experiences of adolescent mothers
Am J Matern Child Nurs
Infant feeding and contraceptive practices among adolescents with a high teen pregnancy rate: A 3-year retrospective study
J Womens Health
Relationship between prenatal feeding intention and initiation and duration of breastfeeding: A cohort study
Acta Paediatr
Racial/ethnic differences in breastfeeding initiation and duration among low-income, inner-city mothers
Soc Sci Q
Balancing work and family: Effect of employment characteristics on breastfeeding
J Hum Lact
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among US infants: The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Phase II, 1991–1994)
Am J Public Health
WIC participation, breastfeeding practices, and well-child care among unmarried low-income mothers
Am J Public Health
Cited by (62)
Pregnancy in adolescence: It is time to get ready for generations Z and Alpha
2023, Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical MedicineProtective factors in mature human milk: a look into the proteome and peptidome of adolescent mothers' breast milk
2019, British Journal of NutritionMaternal age at birth and child attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: causal association or familial confounding?
2023, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines