Racial and ethnic differences in breastfeeding, maternal knowledge, and self-efficacy among low-income mothers

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine racial and ethnic differences in the propensity to engage in breastfeeding, maternal knowledge, and self-efficacy in infant feeding among three groups of low-income mothers: non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH African American, and Hispanic.

While racial and ethnic differences in infant feeding practices are substantial, these differences have not been broadly examined in relation to breastfeeding, maternal knowledge, and self-efficacy in infant feeding among low-income mothers.

This secondary analysis used baseline data from a randomized clinical trial with a sample of 540 low-income, mother-infant dyads from Michigan and Colorado. All data were collected when infants were approximately one month old via self-report questionnaires.

After adjusting for mothers' age, education, marital and working status, the odds of engaging in any form of breastfeeding among Hispanic mothers remained significantly higher than among NH African-American mothers (OR=2.5, 95% CI:1.59-3.96) and NH White mothers (OR=1.7, 95% CI:1.08-2.81). However, Hispanic mothers had significantly lower maternal knowledge and self-efficacy in infant feeding than the other two groups. No significant correlations were found between maternal knowledge, self-efficacy in infant feeding, and the propensity to breastfeed.

Racial and ethnic variations were evident in the propensity to breastfeed, maternal knowledge, and self-efficacy in infant feeding suggesting the importance of tailoring breastfeeding programs to improve breastfeeding, and associated positive health outcomes. Further investigation is needed to find a better way to address breastfeeding disparity in relation to race and ethnicity, maternal knowledge, and self-efficacy in infant feeding.