Factors Associated With Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Latina Women Giving Birth at an Inner-city Baby-Friendly Hospital

Abstract

Latina women living in the United States initiate breastfeeding at high rates, but their exclusivity is low. We examined factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding prior to discharge among 349 healthy Latina women giving birth at a Baby-Friendly™ hospital in Massachusetts in 2004 to 2005. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding included maternal age <25 years ( P = .017), US-born mother ( P = .023), and having a Birth Sistersm (doula) ( P = .030). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, maternal age <25 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-4.10), US-born mother (AOR 3.16; 95% CI, 1.20-8.29), and Birth Sister involvement (AOR 2.16; 95% CI, 1.18-3.97) remained positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Compared with women who gave 4 or more formula feeds, women who gave only 1 to 3 formula feeds were more likely to have a Birth Sister (AOR 1.95; 95% CI, 1.05-3.63), to deliver vaginally (AOR 3.05; 95% CI, 1.32-7.05), and to delay the first formula feed (AOR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.06). J Hum Lact. 25(1):28-33.