Associations Between Maternity Care Practices and 2-Month Breastfeeding Duration Vary by Race, Ethnicity, and Acculturation

Abstract

Objectives This study examines the associations between specific maternity care practices and breastfeeding duration for Spanish-speaking Hispanic, English-speaking Hispanic, non-Hispanic Native American, and non-Hispanic White women. Methods We analyzed data from the 2012–2014 New Mexico Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. We used survey language as a proxy measure of acculturation and categorized women as Spanish-speaking Hispanic, English-speaking Hispanic, non-Hispanic Native American, and non-Hispanic White. We conducted bivariate analyses to compare rates of breastfeeding at 2 months and experiences of maternity care practices and logistic regression analysis to estimate the effects of these practices on breastfeeding duration for each group. Results Hispanic women were less likely than non-Hispanic women to breastfeed for at least 2 months (67.9% vs. 76.6%; p = 0.000); however, this varied significantly by acculturation level: 78.1% of Spanish-speaking Hispanic women compared to 66.1% of English-speaking Hispanic women breastfed for at least 2 months (p = 0.000). The effects of specific maternity care practices on duration varied across groups. Among non-Hispanic White, Native American, and English-speaking Hispanic women, breastfeeding while at the hospital had the strongest effect (AOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.67–2.61; AOR 2.71, 95% CI 2.08–3.52; and AOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.76–2.25, respectively). Among Spanish-speaking Hispanic women, being encouraged to breastfeed on demand had the strongest effect (AOR 5.179, 95% CI 3.86–6.94). Conclusions for Practice The effects of maternity care practices on breastfeeding duration vary by race, ethnicity, and acculturation level. Health care systems must acknowledge the diversity of their patient populations when seeking to develop and implement breastfeeding-friendly practices.

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