135: Maternal Diet: A Social Determinant of Breastfeeding Practice

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides the ideal nourishment for the infant, yet prevalence rates are low. Understanding the effect of maternal health behaviours on enhancing breastfeeding practice may allow health care practitioners to better provide health behaviour counselling and effectively target vulnerable populations. We examined the relationship of maternal diet and breastfeeding practice We used cross-sectional data on 2594 mothers from the 2009–2010 Ohio CDC Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationships of maternal diet (fruit, vegetable, and multivitamin intake) with breastfeeding practice (breastfeeding intention, breastfeeding initiation, any breastfeeding at four weeks postpartum, and any breastfeeding at eight weeks postpartum). Mothers who ate a diet low in fruits and vegetables were less likely to intend to breastfeed, initiate, or continue breastfeeding to eight weeks after birth, compared with mothers who ate a diet adequate in fruits and vegetables. A diet low in fruits and vegetables (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.22 [95% CI 0.08 to 0.66]) and multivitamin intake (AOR 1.55 [95% CI 1.24 to 1.93]) were independent predictors of any breastfeeding at eight weeks postpartum. Eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables during pregnancy negatively predicts breastfeeding practice, whereas taking multivitamins positively predicts breastfeeding practice.