Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116134

Curtis A. Miller, BS and Youjie Huang, MD, MPH, DrPH. Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-12, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1720, (850) 245-4444 x2407, curt_miller@doh.state.fl.us

Background: Research indicates that human breast milk provides a wide range of health benefits to infants and mothers. This report identifies associations between hospital staff's encouragement of breastfeeding among new mothers during their postpartum hospital stay, breastfeeding initiation in the hospital, and breastfeeding duration among new mothers in Florida.

Methods: We analyzed the 2000 and 2001 Florida Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) dataset using logistic regression and controlling for demographic variables, such as race/ethnicity and age.

Results: Breastfeeding initiation during postpartum hospital stay is correlated with whether the new mother was encouraged by hospital staff to breastfeed on demand (OR=13.9; CI 10.5, 18.6). Other factors, such as race/ethnicity and level of education, had significant, yet smaller effects on initiation of breastfeeding in the hospital. Among women who received encouragement by hospital staff to breastfeed on demand, 90.3% initiated breastfeeding during their postpartum hospital stay.

Breastfeeding activity is correlated with the initiation of breastfeeding during a new mother's postpartum hospital stay. Of mothers who reported breastfeeding at all, 91.6% initiated breastfeeding in the hospital.

Breastfeeding duration of at least 3 months is correlated with breastfeeding initiation during postpartum hospital stay (OR=14.4; CI 9.6, 21.6). Among mothers who breastfed for at least 3 months, 95.0% had initiated breastfeeding in the hospital.

Conclusions: Hospital staff play an important role in whether new mothers breastfeed their newborns. Their encouragement significantly contributes to a new mother's initiation of breastfeeding in the hospital, and that initiation significantly contributes to the duration of breastfeeding.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to describe the significant association between hospital staff support of breastfeeding during postpartum hospital stay and new mothers' decision to breastfeed their newborns.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Infant Health

Related Web page: www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/prams/prams.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.