Exploring Intended Infant Feeding Decisions Among Low-Income Women

Objective To determine infant feeding practices of low-income women at a Baby-Friendly Hospital and to ascertain breastfeeding interventions they believe would increase exclusive breastfeeding. Study Design This cross-sectional study occurred at a tertiary care Baby-Friendly Hospital. Low-income women without breastfeeding contraindications were recruited at scheduled obstetrician/gynecologist appointments within 6 to 9 months of delivering a term, nonanomalous infant. Participants completed a survey. Outcomes included infant feeding patterns and perceived usefulness of proposed breastfeeding interventions. Results Of 149 participants, 129 (86.6%) initiated breastfeeding; by postpartum day 2 (PPD2), 47 (31.5%) exclusively breastfed, 51 (34.2%) breastfed with formula, and 51 (34.2%) exclusively formula fed. On a scale of 1 (“strongly agree”) to 5 (“strongly disagree”), women who supplemented with formula on PPD2 were significantly more likely than those who exclusively formula fed to agree education on neonatal behavior, 1 (interquartile range [IQR] 1, 2) versus 2 (IQR 1, 3); p = 0.026 and on-demand access to breastfeeding videos on latch or positioning, 1 (IQR 1, 2) versus 2 (IQR 1, 3), p = 0.043; 1 (IQR 1, 2) versus 2 (IQR 1, 3), p = 0.021, respectively, would have helped them exclusively breastfeed. Conclusion Though low-income women at a Baby-Friendly Hospital had high breastfeeding initiation rates, the majority used formula by PPD2. To increase breastfeeding rates among low-income women, future interventions should provide appropriate and effective breastfeeding interventions.

Download Full-text

Understanding health behaviour in pregnancy and infant feeding intentions in low-income women from the UK through qualitative visual methods and application to the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) model

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-018-2156-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Aimee Grant ◽

Melanie Morgan ◽

Dawn Mannay ◽

Dunla Gallagher

Keyword(s):

Infant Feeding ◽

Health Behaviour ◽

Low Income ◽

Visual Methods ◽

Low Income Women ◽

The Uk ◽

Infant Feeding Intentions ◽

In Pregnancy

Download Full-text

Roles, perceptions and control of infant feeding among low-income fathers

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980009991972 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 522-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Kirsten E Anderson ◽

Jennifer C Nicklas ◽

Marsha Spence ◽

Katherine Kavanagh

Keyword(s):

Infant Feeding ◽

Low Income ◽

Solid Foods ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

The Usa ◽

Male Caregivers ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Program ◽

Infant Feeding Decisions ◽

And Control ◽

Infant Behaviour

AbstractObjectiveIntroduction of solid foods before the recommended age of 4–6 months is a common practice in the USA, and appears to be especially prevalent among infants who are enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Currently, little is known about how fathers influence early infant feeding decisions, outside the decision to breast- or formula-feed. The purpose of the current study was to explore how fathers perceive the role they play in feeding and caring for their infants.DesignParticipants were twenty-one male caregivers, who were fathers or partners of the mothers of WIC income-eligible infants residing in two rural East Tennessee counties. In-depth, audio-taped telephone interviews were completed. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed according to standard grounded theory procedures to identify emergent concepts. These concepts were explored and linked together to become themes.ResultsThree themes emerged: (i) fathers’ roles; (ii) fathers’ perceptions; and (iii) control. Concepts within the theme of fathers’ roles included physical and emotional support for both mother and infant, validation of maternal decisions, and financial support. In the present study, fathers’ perceptions were primarily shaped by their own experiences, advice from those with experience, and information sought by the fathers. The theme of control appears to be the linkage between the fathers’ attempts to modify infant behaviour and infants’ response.ConclusionsA final conceptual model was created to explain the interrelated nature of the themes and may be helpful to those who work with fathers and/or families of new infants.

Download Full-text

Infant feeding decisions and behaviours among low-income smoke-exposed women: timing and change during pregnancy

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980017001690 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (15) ◽

pp. 2796-2805 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Patricia Markham Risica ◽

Kristen McCausland

Keyword(s):

Infant Feeding ◽

Breast Feeding ◽

Low Income ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Adult Women ◽

Health Education Intervention ◽

Infant Feeding Decisions ◽

Breast Fed ◽

In Pregnancy

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to describe change in feeding intentions and predictors of breast-feeding intentions during the course of pregnancy.DesignAnalysis of prospectively collected data from a larger randomized controlled trial of a health education intervention to reduce environmental smoke exposure among women during and after pregnancy.SettingParticipants were recruited from prenatal clinics, but all further communication occurred with participating women living in the community.SubjectsLow-income, adult women (n399) were interviewed during the 16th and 32nd week of pregnancy to ascertain prenatal feeding intentions and breast-feeding knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy. Characteristics of women by infant feeding intention were assessed along with differences in intention from 16 to 32 weeks of pregnancy and feeding behaviours after delivery. Differences in psychosocial variables between women of different intention for infant feeding were measured. Women in each category of feeding intention were assessed for changes in psychosocial factors by eventual infant feeding behaviour.ResultsFeeding intention early in pregnancy was strongly, but not consistently, associated with feeding intention late in pregnancy, feeding initiation and later feeding patterns. Over one-third of women who were undecided at 16 weeks’ gestation or earlier initiated breast-feeding. Increases in knowledge and improvement in time, social factors and social support barriers were found among those who exclusively breast-fed.ConclusionsResults indicate that feeding decisions may change during pregnancy. Determining when women make feeding decisions during their pregnancy warrants more research. Interventions to increase breast-feeding intentions should target knowledge, self-efficacy and barriers.

Download Full-text

Infant-Feeding among Low-Income Women: The Social Context that Shapes their Perspectives and Experiences

Canadian Journal of Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/084456211304500303 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 28-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Julia Temple Newhook ◽

Valerie Ludlow ◽

Leigh Anne Newhook ◽

Kimberly Bonia ◽

Janet Murphy Goodridge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Low Income ◽

The Social ◽

Low Income Women

Download Full-text

Social Contexts of Infant Feeding and Infant Feeding Decisions

Journal of Human Lactation ◽

10.1177/0890334415592850 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 132-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ellen J. Schafer ◽

Natalie A. Williams ◽

Siri Digney ◽

Marion E. Hare ◽

Sato Ashida

Keyword(s):

Infant Feeding ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Low Income ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Future Research ◽

Network Member ◽

Care Providers ◽

The Social ◽

Low Income Mothers ◽

Infant Feeding Decisions

Background: Infant feeding takes place within a network of social relationships. However, the social context in which infant feeding advice is received remains underresearched. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the social contexts of infant feeding by examining individual and relationship characteristics of mothers and network members associated with advice to exclusively breastfeed, exclusively formula feed, or use a combination of breast milk and formula. Methods: Information about 287 network members was reported by 80 low-income mothers during a one-time survey. Characteristics of relationships associated with mothers receiving advice (exclusively breastfeed/formula feed, combination feed) from each network member were identified using 2-level logistic regression analyses. Results: Mothers had greater odds of receiving advice to exclusively breastfeed from network members who help make feeding decisions (odds ratio [OR], 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-4.42), exclusively breastfed their own child or children (OR, 6.99; 95% CI, 2.96-16.51), and were health care providers (OR, 4.82; 95% CI, 1.70-13.67). Mothers had greater odds of receiving advice to breastfeed in combination with formula from network members who provided emotional support (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.31-4.55), combination fed their own child or children (OR, 4.85; 95% CI, 1.80-13.05), and had an opinion that was important to the mother (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.13-6.33). Mothers had greater odds of receiving advice to exclusively formula feed from network members who exclusively formula fed their own child or children (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.07-4.66) than those who did not. Conclusion: Social relationship characteristics and network members’ infant feeding experiences may have implications for the advice new mothers receive. Future research should investigate social contexts of infant feeding longitudinally to inform interventions.

Download Full-text