298838
Exploring Nativity Differences in Breastfeeding Behaviors Among Middle-Class Black Women: A Qualitative Study
Research suggests that unsupportive social norms might underlie racial disparities in breastfeeding rates. Other research noting intra-racial differences by nativity status in breastfeeding has similarly suggested that such differences might reflect cultural norms surrounding breastfeeding in native countries. However, a large share of breastfeeding disparities research has been conducted among socioeconomically disadvantaged women and has lacked exploration into intra-racial breastfeeding differences among Black women. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and a Womanist theoretical lens, the current study explored nativity differences and the role of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on breastfeeding initiation and duration among middle-class Black mothers.
Methods
Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 20 middle-class, African-born and African-American mothers in central Ohio from December 2012 to February 2013. Interviews were analyzed for salient themes and examined differences in TPB constructs by nativity status using Atlas/ti.
Results
All participants had initiated breastfeeding or bottle-fed with expressed breast milk. Important sources of encouragement were health providers for African American mothers and family, friends, partners and culture for African-born mothers. Only African-born mothers expressed concerns about the difficulty they encountered with breastfeeding due to the lack of a support system. More African American mothers had discontinued breastfeeding by the time of the interview, and discontinuation was often attributed to health, lactation, and work challenges.
Conclusions
Findings reveal that immigrant Black mothers may be vulnerable to unsupportive breastfeeding norms in the US and also highlight the need for intervention in health care settings and workplaces to improve breastfeeding rates.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culturePublic health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control perceptions on breastfeeding initiation and duration among middle-class Black mothers.
Discuss the divergence in attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control perceptions with respect to breastfeeding behaviors between middle-class, immigrant and US-born Black mothers.
Keyword(s): Breastfeeding, Immigrant Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I served as the principal investigator on this dissertation research. I also have research interests in maternal and child health, particularly maternal health behaviors, birth outcomes, psycho-social & social determinants of health, and international women’s health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.