Breast-feeding in immigrant women: The role of social support and acculturation

This study assessed the influence of social support and acculturation on breast-feeding in 962 low-income immigrant women in New York. Women completed a questionnaire during their postpartum visit. Logistic regression analyses revealed that mom acculturated women were 2 times less likely to decide to breast-feed than less acculturated women. The influence of acculturation decreased however when controling for other predictor variables. Predictor variables of breast-feeding (p < .05) were intent, being a nonsmoker; breast-feeding role modeling, and a negative response to the item "A modem woman breast-feeds her baby. " Acculturation did not influence breast-feeding. More acculturated women reported mom social support. The results indicate a need to target breast-feeding promotion to the most vulnerable group of young mothers (i.e., recent arrivals and women who are undecided about their infant feeding method).