Maternal sociodemographic characteristics and the use of the Iowa Infant Attitude Feeding Scale to describe breastfeeding initiation and duration in a population of urban, Latina mothers: a prospective cohort study
Open Access
- 8 July 2013
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in International Breastfeeding Journal
- Vol. 8 (1), 7
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-8-7
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age. Maternal attitudes toward infant feeding are correlated with chosen feeding method and breastfeeding duration. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) has been used to assess attitudes towards breastfeeding prenatally and is predictive of breastfeeding decisions in certain population groups. Methods In a cohort of pregnant Latina women recruited from two hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area (n=185), we administered the IIFAS prior to delivery. Information regarding feeding choice, maternal sociodemographic information, and anthropometrics were collected at 6 months and 1 year postpartum. Analysis of predictors for breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding at 6 and 12 months and exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. Results In our cohort of Latina mothers, breastfeeding a previous infant was associated with breastfeeding initiation (OR 8.29 [95% CI 1.00, 68.40] p = 0.05) and breastfeeding at 6 months (OR 18.34 [95% CI 2.01, 167.24] p = 0.01). College education was associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months (OR 58.67 [95% CI 4.97, 692.08] p = 0.001) and having other children was associated with reduced breastfeeding at six months (OR 0.08 [95% CI 0.01, 0.70] p = 0.02). A higher IIFAS score was not associated with breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding at 6 or 12 months or exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months of age. Conclusions Initial choices about breastfeeding will likely influence future breastfeeding decisions, so breastfeeding interventions should specifically target new mothers. Mothers with other children also need additional encouragement to maintain breastfeeding until 6 months of age. The IIFAS, while predictive of breastfeeding decisions in other population groups, was not associated with feeding decisions in our population of Latina mothers.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Examining the breastfeeding support resources of the public health nursing services in IrelandJournal of Clinical Nursing, 2011
- Infant Formula, Tea, and Water Supplementation of Latino Infants at 4-6 Weeks PostpartumJournal of Human Lactation, 2011
- Chronic Maternal Depression Is Associated with Reduced Weight Gain in Latino Infants from Birth to 2 Years of AgePLOS ONE, 2011
- An exploration of the knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding among a sample of Chinese mothers in IrelandBMC Public Health, 2010
- Saudi Mothers’ Expected Intentions and Attitudes Toward Breast-FeedingICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition, 2010
- Factors affecting intention to breastfeed among Syrian and Jordanian mothers: a comparative cross-sectional studyInternational Breastfeeding Journal, 2010
- Predictors of the early introduction of solid foods in infants: results of a cohort studyBMC Pediatrics, 2009
- Prevalence of Breastfeeding and Acculturation in Hispanics: Results from NHANES 1999–2000 StudyBirth, 2005
- Breastfeeding Rates in the United States by Characteristics of the Child, Mother, or Family: The 2002 National Immunization SurveyPEDIATRICS, 2005
- Parental Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding: Their Association with Feeding Outcome at Hospital DischargeBirth, 2004