Article
Infant-Feeding Practices of Low-Income Vietnamese American Women
Journal of Human Lactation
(2008)
Abstract
Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding goals include 50% exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months. In California, US, Santa Clara County Women, Infants, and Children (SCCWIC) data indicated Asian participants had low (5.6%) 6-month breastfeeding rates. To examine infant-feeding practices, Vietnamese breastfeeding peer counselors surveyed 133 Vietnamese SCCWIC participants (≥ 18 years old, nonpregnant, < 28 months postpartum) using a structured questionnaire regarding intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms toward breastfeeding. Results indicated that 75% initiated breastfeeding in the hospital (33% exclusively, 42% partially), and 25% exclusively formula fed. At survey time, 49% had terminated breastfeeding (average duration 4.4 months). Feeding intentions during pregnancy predicted feeding method used (P < .001). Most prenatal advice was from SCCWIC employees, friends, and doctors who supported breastfeeding. Most postnatal advice was from nurses who supported breastfeeding and bottle-feeding equally. Stronger control beliefs, peer counseling, and education were correlated with breastfeeding (P < .001). Improved postdelivery hospital advice may further increase breastfeeding initiation and duration.
Keywords
- breastfeeding,
- Vietnamese,
- theory of planned behavior,
- peer counselor,
- WIC
Disciplines
Publication Date
November, 2008
DOI
10.1177/0890334408318833
Publisher Statement
This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article whose final and definitive form, the Version of Record, has been published in Journal of Human Lactation, 2008 in Volume 24, Issue 4. Find the published version of this article at this link.
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Citation Information
Yashmi Mistry, Marjorie R. Freedman, Kathleen Sweeney and Clarie Hollenbeck. "Infant-Feeding Practices of Low-Income Vietnamese American Women" Journal of Human Lactation Vol. 24 Iss. 4 (2008) p. 406 - 414 ISSN: 0890-3344 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/marjorie_freedman/23/