From todays Obgyn.net news:

Several factors determine whether urban women elect to breastfeed or not
Jacobi Medical Center
January 21, 2004

2004 JAN 21 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Several factors determine
whether urban women elect to breast feed or not.

"The objective of our study was to identify factors associated with
the initiation of breast-feeding in a poor urban area. One hundred
postpartum, nonadolescent, non-drug using mothers, 50 breast-feeding
and 50 formula feeding, were consecutively interviewed,"
investigators in the United States report.

"Breast-feeding women were more likely to be born outside of the
United States (42 vs. 14%, p=0.002), have more years of education
(12.1±1.9 vs. 10.9±1.7, p=0.002), be employed either prior to or
during pregnancy (38 vs. 16%, p=0.000), be married (46 vs. 26%,
p=0.037), be a nonsmoker (86 vs. 64%, p=0.011), have more prenatal
visits (8.4±7.3 vs. 5.0±5.9, p=0.010), or have a breast-feeding
mother (48 vs. 26%, p=0.023)," said L. Noble and colleagues, Jacobi
Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics.

"There were no differences in age or ethnicity. The father of the
breastfeeding baby was more likely to be better educated (12.0±2.8
vs. 10.5±3.6 years, p=0.022) and to work full-time (68 vs. 40%,
p=0.005)."

"Eighty-four percent of formula feeders knew that breast milk was
better for their babies but decided not to breast-feed due to
concerns of pain, smoking, and work. Sixty-three percent of women
made the choice to breast-feed prior to the pregnancy, 26% during the
pregnancy, and 11% after delivery. Significantly more multiparas
decided prior to the pregnancy compared with primaparas," study
authors indicated.

"We recommend that breast-feeding education should be started prior
to the first pregnancy and tailored to the concerns of the women,"
they suggested.

Noble and colleagues published their study in American Journal of
Perinatology (Factors influencing initiation of breast-feeding among
urban women. Am J Perinatol, 2003;20(8):477-483).

For additional information, contact L. Noble, Jacobi Med Center,
Department Pediatrics, 1400 Pelham Pkwy S, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

The publisher of the American Journal of Perinatology can be
contacted at: Thieme Medical Publ Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York,
NY 10001, USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas
of Lactation and Obstetrics. This article was prepared by Biotech
Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2004, Biotech
Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.

©Copyright 2004, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
http://www.obgyn.net/newsheadlines/womens_health-Jacobi_Medical_Center-20040121-33.asp

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