Breastfeeding+in+Hispanic+and+Latino+American+Women+in+the+U.S.

By: Cristina Valcarcel - Mikijanic toc

=Introduction= Breastfeeding has remarkable health benefits, both for the mother and the infant. Among the different cultural populations in the United States, the culture with the highest rate of breastfeeding is the Hispanic/Latino culture. Especially in women who are unacculturated.

= = =**Breastfeeding in the United States**=

The table below compares the averages of the U.S. population breastfeeding, Hispanic/latino average, and other races averages.

Table 1: **Average Percentage of Women Breastfeeding in the U.S.** //(Gorman, Madlensky, Jackson, Ganiats & Boies, 2007; Harley, Stamm & Eskenazi, 2007; Hill, Arnett, & Mauk, 2008;// // Breastfeeding Report Card, 2014) // =**Breastfeeding among Hispanic/Latino unacculturated and acculturated women**=
 * **Country/ Culture** || **Average % Breastfeeding** ||
 * U.S. Average || 73% ||
 * Hispanic/Latino Average || 80% ||
 * Other Races Combined || 69% ||

The Hispanic/Latino average is slightly higher than the US average. Table 2 (below) shows how the percentage of women who breast feeds decreases as they women become more acculturated. There is a substantial difference in the percentage of women who are unacculturated (98.9%) and the U.S. average of 79.2%. Interestingly, women who are acculturated, are closer to, but still higher than the national average (81.3% v. 79.2%). However, women who are in the United States for eleven years or longer show an higher percentage in ever breastfeeding, but show a sharper decrease at 6 months and 12 months than the national average.

Table 2: **Breastfeeding percentage as women become more acculturated** //(Gorman, Madlensky, Jackson, Ganiats & Boies, 2007; Harley, Stamm & Eskenazi, 2007; Hill, Arnett, & Mauk, 2008; NBCNews, 2010)//
 * **Time in US (years)** || **Ever Breastfed** || **At 6 months** || **At 12 months** ||
 * US Average (2011) || 79.2 % || 49.4 % || 26.7 % ||
 * less than 5 years || 98.9% || 55.4% || 31.1% ||
 * 6 – 10 years || 96.4% || 50.9% || 31.8% ||
 * 11 + years || 95.3% || 43.4% || 26.7% ||
 * Entire lives || 81.3% || 22.7% || 6.8% ||

=**Reasons Women Breastfeed**=

Why is the average in Hispanic/Latino women so much higher than the national average? The answer can be found in three of the main reasons women choose to breastfeed or to use formula. //(Romero-Gwynn & Carias, 1989; Gill, Reifsnider, Mann, Villarreal, & Tinkle, 2004; Harley, Stamm, & Eskenazi, 2007; Hill, Arnett, & Mauk, 2008, Vaaler, Castrucci, Parks, Clark, Stagg & Eric////kson, 2011)//
 * Reason || Cultural Significance ||
 * **Intention to Breastfeed** || Latin American women stated the intent to breastfeed more than other women. ||
 * **Social Network Support** || Many Latin American women had a close friend or family member (mother, grandmother, sister) who breast fed ||
 * **Perception and Support from Partner** || The majority of Hispanic/Latino men support and encourage their partner to breastfeed. ||

=**Self, Behavior, Experience Model**= The differences in women breast feeding can be explained by Koltko-Rivera’s Self, Behavior, Experience model (p. 37, 2004):



The self emits a behavior, the behavior results in an experience, the experience shapes the self and redefines the world view. In Hispanic/Latino American culture, women show a higher intention to breast feed. The behavior is supported by the close female relationships (mother/grandmother). If the woman’s mother or grandmother breastfed she is more likely to breastfeed. Additionally, Hispanic/ Latino men are more supportive of their partner breastfeeding. The support from the close female relationships and partner support leads to a positive experience which builds the woman’s confidence in breastfeeding, and makes her more likely to breastfeed after subsequence pregnancies.

=**References:**= Gill, S., Reifsnider, E., Mann, A., Villarreal, P., & Tinkle, M. (2004). Assessing Infant Breastfeeding Beliefs Among Low-Income Mexican Americans. //Journal of Perinatal Education,// //13//(3), 39-50. Retrieved October 31, 2014, from [|http://][|www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595211/pdf/JPE130039.pdf]

Gorman, J. R., Madlensky, L., Jackson, D. J., Ganiats, T. G., & Boies, E. (2007). Early Postpartum Breastfeeding and Acculturation among Hispanic Women. //Birth: Issues In Perinatal Care//, //34//(4), 308-315. doi:10.1111/j.1523-536X.2007.00189.x

Harley, K., Stamm, N., & Eskenazi, B. (2014). The Effect of Time in the U.S. on the Duration of Breastfeeding in Women of Mexican Descent. //Matern Child Health Journal,// //11//(2), 119-125. doi:10.1007/s10995-006-0152-5

Hill, G., Arnett, D., & Mauk, E. (2008). Breast-feeding intentions among low-income pregnant and lactating women. //American Journal Of Health Behavior//, //32//(2), 125-136.

Hispanic moms breast-feed the most. (2010, January 1). Retrieved October 31, 2014, from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/36039199/ns/health-childrens_health/t/hispanic-moms-breast-feed-most/

Koltko-Rivera, M. E. (2004). The psychology of world views. //Review of General Psychology//, //8//(1), 3-58. doi: 10.1037/1089-2680.8.1.3

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2014) //Breastfeeding report card.// Washington, DC.

Romero-Gwynn, E., & Carias, L. (1989). Breast-Feeding Intentions and Practice Among Hispanic Mothers in Southern California. //Pediatrics//, //84//(4), 626.

Vaaler, M. L., Castrucci, B. C., Parks, S. E., Clark, J., Stagg, J., & Erickson, T. (2011). Men's Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding: Findings from the 2007 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. //Maternal & Child Health Journal//, //15//(2), 148-157. doi:10.1007/s10995-010-0605-8