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Abstract

Although breast milk is recommended as the optimal source of infant nutrition, breastfeeding initiation is below recommended levels, especially among teenage mothers. Breastfeeding initiation rates among Michigan (US) teenage mothers (12-19 y) were compared by demographics and health behaviors. Multivariate analyses determined which factors were significant independent predictors of breast feeding initiation among teenage mothers enrolled prenatally in the Michigan Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in 1995. Significant predictors independently associated with breastfeeding initiation were race/ethnicity, education, marital status, postpartum anemia status, parity, prenatal trimester of WIC enrollment, and smoking. The strongest predictor of breastfeeding initiation differed for white mothers (positive predictor: education beyond high school [OR = 3.13]) and black mothers (negative predictor: multiparous [OR = 0.25]). Initiation rates for this population of teenage mothers fall below the national average for mothers of all ages and the US Healthy People 2010 goals. Research is needed concerning how breastfeeding support and education can be improved to reach the US national health goals. J Hum Lact. 19(1):50-56.

Características de madres adolescentes y factores pronósticos para la iniciación de la lactancia materna en el programa de WIC de Michigan en 1995 A pesar de que la leche materna se recomienda como la nutrición optima para el niño/a, el índice de iniciación de la lactancia materna se encuentra por debajo de lo recomendado, especialmente entre las madres adolescentes. Este estudio comparó basado en datos demográficos y comportamientos de salud, el índice de iniciación de la lactancia materna entre las madres adolescentes (12-19 años) en Michigan (USA). En un análisis multivariado se determinaron cuales fueron los factores significantes independientes que pronostican la iniciación de la lactancia materna entre las madres adolescentes, participantes desde el prenatal en el programa WIC de Michigan en 1995. Se encontraron factores predecibles independientes asociados a la iniciación de la lactancia materna como raza/etnicidad, educación, estado civil, anemia postparto, paridad, trimestre en el que entró a participar en el programa WIC, y fumar. El factor predecible mas fuerte para la iniciación de la lactancia materna fue diferente entre las madres blancas (educación mas allá de la escuela superior [OR = 3.13]), y las madres negras (multiparidad [OR = 0.25]). El índice de iniciación en esta población de madres adolescentes se encuentra por debajo del promedio de las madres de todas las edades a nivel nacional y las metas del US Healthy People 2010. Es necesario investigar mas en como apoyar y educar sobre la lactancia materna para mejorar y lograr las metas de salud a nivel nacional en Estados Unidos.

Keywords

breastfeeding initiation teenage mothers low income WIC

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Characteristics of Teenage Mothers and Predictors of Breastfeeding Initiation in the Michigan WIC Program in 1995

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