142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

305433
Breastfeeding Duration among Roma and non-Roma Mothers Living in Underdeveloped Regions of Hungary

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Kristie Long Foley, PhD , Medical Humanities Program, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
Andrea Fogarasi-Grenczer , Department of Family Care and Methodology, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Ildiko Rakoczi , Family Care and Methodology, Debrecen-Nyiregyhaza University, Debrecen, Hungary
Peter Balazs , Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Background: We explored factors associated with breastfeeding duration among new mothers living in Hungary, a country with a robust maternal and child health (MCH) service.   Methods: This research is part of a retrospective cohort study (2009-2012) that included over 18,000 in-person interviews conducted by the MCH nurses among new mothers living in the underdeveloped regions of Hungary.  Our analytical included women interviewed ≥52 weeks after delivery, with self-reported ethnicity and complete breastfeeding duration data (n=4,053).   Results: Almost all women initiated breastfeeding (95%).  However, 61% of those who initiated stopped breastfeeding between 0-12 weeks, while 38% continued breastfeeding for 1 year. Using logistic regression and 99% confidence intervals, Roma women were almost twice as likely as non-Roma women to breastfeed for 1+ years (OR=1.93, 99%CI 1.43-2.60).  Factors associated with a lower likelihood of breastfeeding for one year included: mother being underweight (OR=.64, 99%CI=-.45-0.91), smoking during pregnancy (OR=.64, 99%CI 0.51-0.80), and having a pre-term infant (OR=0.48, 99%CI=0.33-0.70). Non-significant controls included socioeconomic status, mother’s marital status and age, and whether the pregnancy was planned. Conclusions: Studies have documented the devastating socioeconomic conditions of the Roma and the corresponding negative health effects. Our study demonstrates that Roma women are much more likely than non-Roma to continue breastfeeding for one year, which has positive implications for mother and child.  However, high rates of smoking during pregnancy overall (30%), especially among the Roma versus non-Roma (53% vs. 21%, respectively) suggests the need for a multi-faceted intervention to promote maternal and child health in Hungary.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related nursing
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain factors associated with breastfeeding duration among predominately low-income women in Hungary. Propose strategies to improve breastfeeding duration among Roma and non-Roma women.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principle Investigator of the grant "Building Capacity for Tobacco Research in Hungary" and the lead author of the submitted abstract.
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.