Breastfeeding among the Ontario James Bay Cree: a retrospective study

Although previous unpublished research has demonstrated low breastfeeding rates among the James Bay Cree of Northern Ontario, the reasons for this are not immediately clear.

A retrospective medical chart review of women who had given birth at the Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory, Ontario in the seven-year period 1997 to 2003 was performed. A variety of demographic variables were documented and overall breastfeeding initiation rates and yearly variations were assessed.

Univariate chi-square analysis of the data indicated that young maternal age (mean=23; p=0.001), maternal smoking (average rate=52.1%; p=0.03), living location (in a small coastal community; p=0.001); and low education status (not completing high school; p<0.001) were risk factors for a mother choosing not to breastfeed. Regression analysis revealed that only living in small coastal communities and not having post-secondary education were independently associated with not breastfeeding. Absence of a partner nearly reached statistical significance on regression analysis (p=0.056). The overall breastfeeding initiation rates (51.9%, 95% CI: 49.3-54.5) were confirmed to be lower than the national average (78%), and the rate has remained low over the seven years of the study.

These results should help clarify why some mothers in the Moose Factory region are at risk of not breastfeeding. This information will be useful in directing future research on the differences in breastfeeding rates among different Aboriginal Peoples' communities, and assist in the development of program policies specific to women who have one or more of the identified risk factors.