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Disparities in Breastfeeding Among Military Veterans
- Source :
- Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. 36(1)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Background: Although breastfeeding is a major public health priority and provides numerous benefits, women veterans encounter many barriers to initiating and sustaining breastfeeding. Women veterans are a growing population with unique health care needs related to exposures and injuries experienced during military service. These military experiences are linked to health diagnoses known to impact postpartum health behaviors, such as breastfeeding. Research aim: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with breastfeeding at 4 weeks postpartum among women veterans. Methods: We used 2016-to-2018 survey data from women veterans ( N = 420), interviewed before and after delivery, who were enrolled in maternity care coordination at a national sample of Veterans Health Administration facilities. Using the social ecological model, logistic regression was employed to explore the relationship between breastfeeding at least 4 weeks and postpartum and maternal/infant characteristics, interpersonal dynamics, community influences, and system factors. Results: The rate of breastfeeding at 4 weeks postpartum was 78.6% among this sample of veterans. Self-employed participants were 2.8 times more likely to breastfeed than those who were employed outside the home. Participants who had been deployed at any point in their military career were twice as likely to breastfeed compared with those who never deployed. In this study sample, race independently predicted lower rates of breastfeeding, with African American participants being 48% less likely to breastfeed as compared with white participants. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests significant racial disparities in breastfeeding within veteran populations utilizing Veterans Health Administration, despite access to multiple sources of support from both the Veterans Health Administration and the community.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Postnatal Care
medicine.medical_specialty
Public health
Breastfeeding
Health services research
Obstetrics and Gynecology
United States
03 medical and health sciences
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
0302 clinical medicine
Breast Feeding
Cross-Sectional Studies
030225 pediatrics
Family medicine
medicine
Social ecological model
Humans
Female
030212 general & internal medicine
Healthcare Disparities
Psychology
Veterans
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15525732
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....afeaa44630a10b76b2d55991e13f70b9