Breast-feeding pattern among Indochinese immigrants in Northern California

Article Abstract:

Infant feeding practices often change when families emigrate from less industrialized to more industrialized cultures; mothers who breast-fed in their native country have a tendency to increase their use of commercially prepared formulas in more industrialized settings. Infant feeding practices were studied among Laotian and Cambodian women before and after they emigrated to California. Although 97 percent of the 134 mothers breast-fed their infants while living in Indochina, only 26.1 percent breast-fed their first infant born in the US, and only 22.4 breast-fed their last infant born in the US. Only 3.8 percent of the 26 women who were pregnant at the time of the study intended to breast-feed. The length of time that the mothers breast-fed decreased from an average of 20.4 months in their native country to 8.7 months in the US. The number of mothers using (or intending to use) infant formulas increased from 2.1 percent in Indochina to 73.9 percent for the first American-born child, 77.6 percent for the last child, and 96.2 percent for the expected child. The use of formula feeding correlated with formula sample distribution at US hospitals. Mothers reported that they did not use formula in their own country because the cost was too high or formula was not readily available. The mothers stated they used infant formula in the US because they planned to work, go to school, had an insufficient supply of breast milk or a breast infection. It is thought that Indochinese cultural beliefs and practices as well as adaptation to American ways influenced Indochinese women to choose formula feeding. Health practitioners are encouraged to provide women with information on the benefits of continuing infant breast-feeding practices. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Infant formulas, Women immigrants, Southeast Asians, Indochinese

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The effect of postpartum lactation counseling on the duration of breast-feeding in low-income women

Article Abstract:

Breast feeding is the most beneficial form of infant nourishment and pediatricians normally encourage mothers to breast feed their babies. The greatest increase in breast feeding has been among educated and affluent women. In an effort to encourage women in lower socioeconomic circumstances to adopt breast feeding, a study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a program of intensive postpartum education and support. Ninety-seven low-income women were placed in one of two groups. One group received the intensive education program, and the other received only routine assistance provided by obstetrical nurses. Both groups were contacted by telephone six weeks after delivery to determine their method of infant feeding. Those who were still breast feeding were contacted monthly thereafter, until the infant was weaned. No significant differences in the average duration of breast feeding in either group were found. The control group breast fed for an average of 15 weeks; the program group breast fed for an average of 8 weeks. Similarly, there were no significant differences between the mothers in either group who were still nursing at six weeks, three months, and six months after the birth of the infant. The results of the study might have been influenced by the participation of many mothers in the WIC program. This program provides food for the mother if she is breast feeding her baby. Mothers who are not breast feeding are given formula for the infant, as well as food for themselves, which may have been an economic incentive not to breast feed. There was no relationship between mothers who breast fed longer than six weeks and factors such as race, marital status, or previous experience with breast feeding. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Economic aspects, Maternal health services

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Breast-feeding initiation in a triethnic population

Article Abstract:

By the 1970s, only 25 percent of newborns discharged from hospitals were breast-fed. This increased to 62 percent by 1984, and has since begun to decline in spite of encouragement by medical groups. More frequent breast-feeding can be achieved if the influencing factors are better understood. Education, working status, and ethnicity are among the factors that have been associated with breast-feeding. Some studies have suggested that education may be more important than ethnicity in predicting whether infants will be breast-fed. Cultural differences across ethnic groups, including social support or expectations, may affect nutritional practices as well. To determine what aspects of ethnicity and education most strongly influence breast-feeding, data gathered from 402 Anglo-American, 266 black, and 173 Mexican-American mothers who were evaluated in two previous studies were assessed. The results were analyzed by two different methods. Education was a more significant factor for Anglo-Americans compared with blacks; Anglo-American mothers were more likely than black mothers to breast-feed as education increased. However, Mexican-American mothers were almost two times as likely as black mothers to breast-feed, independent of education. The factors underlying these differences among ethnic groups are unclear, and may be related to greater pressures to return to work among middle-class blacks, acculturation processes among Mexican-Americans, or other influences. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Ethnicity, Education of women, Women's education

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