The Infant Feeding Decision: A Survey of Limited-Resource Women in North Carolina

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting the infant feeding decisions of limited-resource women in North Carolina. Additionally, the study examined the relationships between these demographic and familial factors and maternal perceived barriers on the infant feeding decision.

Three research questions guided the study: 1) Do the influences on the infant feeding decision differ according to these demographic factors? (race/ethnicity, place of residence, level of education, age marital status); 2) Do the following familial factors influence the infant feeding decision and, if so, to what extent? (infant feeding method by which the respondent herself was fed, respondent's previous infant feeding experiences, infant feeding methods of family members and friends, presence of the respondent's romantic partner, and the composition of the household); and 3) Do the following perceived barriers influence the infant feeding decision and, if so, to what extent? (attitudes of prenatal healthcare providers, attitudes of postpartum healthcare providers, plans for returning to work or school, maternal beliefs/perceptions about infant feeding methods, and attitudes of family members/friends toward infant feeding methods).

Among the respondents, the majority of the breastfeeding mothers were white, married, over 20 years of age, and held at least a high school diploma or GED.

Data analysis revealed that a majority of respondents either "always knew" how they would feed their babies, or they made their infant feeding decisions during pregnancy; a small percentage made their infant feeding decisions while hospitalized. A significant relationship was observed between ethnicity and the infant feeding method choice, with Caucasians being more likely than other groups to breastfeed exclusively. Respondents who reported having "some college" or a "college degree" were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed than were respondents who reported having "some high school" or "high school graduate/GED." The relationship between the infant feeding decision and maternal attitudes was significant. Respondents who chose to breastfeed exclusively, as well as respondents who fed their infants a combination of breast milk and formula, expressed positive influences on their infant feeding decision.