Disparities in childcare and breastfeeding rates among US children of single mothers

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study is to evaluate the characteristics and disparities in childcare and breastfeeding rates among children of single mothers compared to those of two parents using a nationally representative US children.MethodsThe study sample consisted of children aged 0 to 5 years enrolled in the National Study of Children's Health 2007 (children of single mothers ( n=3,803, 16.6%) and children of two‐parents (n=22,510, 83.4%). The primary caregiver of the study child responded the following outcome measures: 1) childcare type, 2) employment problems due to childcare, 3) last‐min change of childcare arrangement, 4) breastfeeding initiation, 5) exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, 6) any breastfeeding for 6 months, and 7) started complementary foods before 6 months.ResultsThe profiles of race/ethnicity, birth weight, education, poverty, employment and nativity of mothers in children of single mothers may present higher risk for low breastfeeding rates. There were disparities in childcare use and problems among children of single mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation of complementary foods were not significantly different by family structure; however, breastfeeding initiation (OR= 0.78: 95% CI=0.64–0.97) and any breastfeeding for 6 months (OR=0.76: 95% CI=0.61–0.95) were much lower among children of single mothers compared to those of two parents.ConclusionThis study documented disparities in childcare use and problems as well as breastfeeding rates among children of single mothers, raising a need for public health interventions targeting single mothers.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government, (NRF‐2011‐330‐B00190).