Journal of the National Medical Association
Volume 111, Issue 2, 2019, Pages 153-157

Effects of Immigration on Infant Feeding Practices in an Inner City, Low Socioeconomic Community (Article)

Rosenthal A.* , Oliveira S.B. , Madubuko U. , Tanuos H. , Schwab J. , Monteiro I.M.
  • a Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen St Suite 7300, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
  • b Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen St Suite 7300, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
  • c Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen St Suite 7300, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
  • d Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen St Suite 7300, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
  • e Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen St Suite 7300, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
  • f Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen St Suite 7300, Newark, NJ 07103, United States

Abstract

Objective: Infant feeding practices have been shown to differ between immigrants and non-immigrants in the United States. Our study characterizes feeding practices of infants of immigrant versus American-born mothers followed in an inner city Pediatric continuity clinic serving predominantly low socioeconomic status families. Methods: A survey was given to 102 parents of infants ranging from 12 to 15 months of age who attended the clinic. Parents were asked about their country of origin, ethnic background and time since immigration to the US. They were also asked about their breastfeeding and early infant feeding practices. Statistical significance was estimated using chi-squared tests. Results: Not only were breastfeeding rates higher among immigrant mothers compared to American-born mothers (88% vs. 63%, p-value 0.008) but they introduced commercially available baby food less frequently (37% vs. 52%, p-value 0.03) and rarely fed their infants fast food (22% vs. 50%, p-value<0.001). Moreover, breast feeding rates decreased with duration of residence in the United States. 53% of immigrant mothers who have been in the United States for less than 5 years breastfed for over 6 months versus 22% of immigrant mothers who resided more than 5 years in the United States (p-value 0.02). The vast majority of immigrant mothers who switched to formula did so because they felt their milk production was insufficient (93%) whereas the vast majority of American-born mothers stopped breastfeeding because they perceived it to be painful (64%, p value 0.001). Conclusions: Infant feeding practices differ between immigrant and American-born mothers and the differences diminish the longer the mothers reside in the United States. These differences stem from differences in cultural perceptions of breastfeeding. Therefore, in educating mothers about infant feeding, physicians should strongly consider cultural and ethnic factors. © 2018 National Medical Association

Author Keywords

WIC Immigration Breast feeding Low social economic status

Index Keywords

perception immigrant immigration human controlled study statistical significance Breast Feeding United States social status fast food milk production female Infant Article major clinical study mother physician baby food Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052737347&doi=10.1016%2fj.jnma.2018.07.006&partnerID=40&md5=16db9c071c0da848e7f5e4f6d73ad6a0
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2018.07.006
ISSN: 00279684
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English