Breastfeeding in African-American women

Currently, a disparity in breastfeeding exists between White, Hispanic, and African-American women. When education and income level are similar in women of these populations, the disparity is minimized. Until similar education and incomes are more fully realized, the disparity in breastfeeding may be reduced by provision of culturally competent care. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide data supporting the disparity in breastfeeding, define culture, and relate how one provides culturally competent care in relation to breastfeeding. Cultural points such as kinship, religion, matriarchy, characteristics of males and adolescents in this group, as well as early introduction of cereal feedings are reviewed. Interventions based on cultural points and characteristics that have been found to or may promote breastfeeding in African-American women are presented.