Infant Feeding and Maternal Attitudes among Mothers of Low-Income

Abstract

Demographic variables, maternal attitudes, knowledge, practices, and support systems were studied in a sample of 50 low-income mothers from one area to assess the basis for the low incidence of breastfeeding in this group. Attitudes were compared with those of a previous study of middle-class women. These women of low income emphasized the homemaking role, favored earlier motor and emotional development of the child, and had a more favorable attitude toward breastfeeding. Being unmarried and living with parents or other relatives proved to be an impediment to breastfeeding. More education, encouragement, and support from medical personnel are needed to increase the rate of breastfeeding in such a low-income population.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Hendershot

Trends in breastfeeding. Advance Data, 1980, 59, March 28.

Jelliffee

Breast is best: Modern meanings. New England Journal of Medicine, 1977, 297, 912.

Jelliffee

Breast feeding is best for infants everywhere. Nutrition Today, May-June 1978, 12–16.

Mata

Breast-feeding: Main promoter of infant health. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1978, 31, 2058–2065.

Newton

Psychologic differences between breast and bottle feeding. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1971, 24, 993–1004.

Rivera

The frequency of use of various kinds of milk during infancy in middle- and lower-income families. American Journal of Public Health, 1971, 61, 277–280.

Robertson

Breast feeding practices: Some implications of regional variations. American Journal of Public Health, 1961, 51, 1035.

Schaefer

Bell

Development of parental attitude research instrument. Child Development, 1958, 29, 339–361.

Switzky

Vietze

Switzky

Attitudinal and demographic predictors of breast-feeding and bottle-feeding behavior by mothers of six-week-old infants. Psychological Reports, 1979, 45, 3–14.