Differences in Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration by Migration History in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract

Objective:

To estimate differences in breastfeeding initiation and duration across dimensions of migration history (migration to the U.S. 50 states/District of Columbia [DC] in childhood, adulthood, or not at all) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Methods:

We used data from HCHS/SOL on 520 individuals with a post-baseline live birth and information on breastfeeding collected at Visit 2 (2014–2017). We fit log binomial models adjusted for parity, age at pregnancy, education, income, and immigration history and incorporating sampling weights.

Results:

Overall, 84% of participants reported initiating breastfeeding and 30% reported breastfeeding for 6 or more months. On average, individuals reported breastfeeding for a median of 88 days (interquartile range: 156). Compared with those born in the U.S. 50 states/DC, individuals born in another country or U.S. territory who arrived in the U.S. 50 states/DC as children (<18 years old) were 2.7 times more likely to initiate breastfeeding (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4, 4.9) and those who arrived as adults were 2 times more likely to initiate breastfeeding (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.6). We observed similar patterns for breastfeeding continuation.

Conclusions:

The timing and duration of life course experiences such as migration are key determinants of breastfeeding behavior among Hispanic/Latina postpartum persons.