Association of Maternal Demographic Characteristics With Breastfeeding of Low Birth Weight Infants in Ohio in 2012

Abstract

Background:Breastfeeding is the biologic norm for infant feeding and vitally important for newborns especially the low birth weight (LBW) infant population who have higher morbidity and mortality. For LBW infants in Ohio, prevalence of breastfeeding with maternal sociodemographic factors is not fully known.Methods:The 2012 Ohio Vital Statistics Birth data including 10,571 LBW infants compiled by the Ohio Department of Health were analyzed (8.5% of the total Ohio births in 2012). Descriptive sociodemographic characteristics were summarized by breastfeeding status. Association of breastfeeding in LBW infants was computed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression (LR) analyses.Results:Among the LBW infants, 60% were breastfed. Breastfeeding was significantly higher in LBW infants with increasing maternal age and mothers with more prenatal visits. Within all three race categories (White, African American, others), more mothers breastfed LBW babies. However, among LBW babies being breastfed, the highest proportion was in White families. Mother’s education greater than high school, being married, not on Medicaid, and being nonsmoker were associated with higher rates of breastfeeding. In multivariate LR, increased prenatal visits (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.02, 1.04], p < .001) were associated with a higher breastfeeding percentage compared to mothers of African American race, LBW babies of “other race” had 71% significantly higher breastfeeding percentage (OR = 1.71, 95% CI [1.39, 2.11], p < .001). Having a high school or higher education (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.37, 1.69], p < .001), married (OR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.52, 1.87], p < .001), not on Medicaid (OR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.44, 1.75], p < .001), and not smoking (OR = 2.04, 95% CI [1.84, 2.26], p < .001) were associated with higher breastfeeding percentage.Conclusion:The prevalence of breastfeeding initiation in LBW infants is lower than normal-weight infants. Mothers’ sociodemographic characteristics affect breastfeeding in LBW infants in the same way they affect mothers with normal-weight infants. Targeted efforts during antenatal care to promote breastfeeding would help LBW infants.