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Background Latinas have high overall breastfeeding initiation rates, yet Puerto Ricans have among the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates. This study sought to determine if acculturation was associated with intent to breastfeed in a predominantly Puerto Rican population. Methods A cohort of Latina women were enrolled in Proyecto Buena Salud, and provided information on infant feeding intent ( n = 1,323). Acculturation was assessed via the Psychological Acculturation Scale ( PAS), language preference, and generation in the United States. Results Increasing acculturation as measured by English language preference ( aOR 0.61 [95% CI 0.42-0.88]) and second or third generation in the United States ( aOR 0.70 [95% CI 0.52-0.95)] was inversely associated with odds of intending to exclusively breastfeed. Similarly, women with higher levels of acculturation as measured by the PAS ( aOR 0.67 [95% CI 0.45-0.99]), English language preference ( aOR 0.48 [95% CI 0.33-0.70]) and second or third generation in the United States ( aOR 0.42 [95% CI 0.31-0.58]) were less likely to report intent to combination feed as compared with women with lower acculturation. Conclusions Acculturation was inversely associated with intent to exclusively breastfeed and intent to combination feed in this predominantly Puerto Rican sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the literature on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on perinatal health, and providing data from our own research on pregnant and postpartum women. After Katrina, obstetric, prenatal, and neonatal care was compromised in the short term, but increases in adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth, low birthweight, and maternal complications were mostly limited to highly exposed women. Both pregnant and postpartum women had rates of post-traumatic stress disorder similar to, or lower than, others exposed to Katrina, and rates of depression similar to other pregnant and postpartum populations. Health behaviors, such as smoking and breastfeeding, may have been somewhat negatively affected by the disaster, whereas effects on nutrition were likely associated with limited time, money, and food choices, and indicated by both weight gain and loss. We conclude that, with a few specific exceptions, postdisaster concerns and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women were similar to those of other people exposed to Hurricane Katrina. In such situations, disaster planners and researchers should focus on providing care and support for the normal concerns of the peripartum period, such as breastfeeding, depression, and smoking cessation. Contraception needs to be available for those who do not want to become pregnant. Although additional physical and mental health care needs to be provided for the most severely exposed women and their babies, many women are capable of surviving and thriving in postdisaster environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article relates an author's view on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the health of pregnant women and their babies in the U.S. The first priority of disaster relief agencies is to provide obstetrical and neonatal care. It was believed that access to care for pregnant women is actually improved after a disaster.