Breastfeeding in Mississippi: Factors that Impact Initiation and Duratio

Mississippi currently has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the United States. Breastfeeding has been associated with favorable infant mortality rates; however, Mississippi has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the nation. The purpose of the research is to examine the barriers that prevent women from and continuing to breastfeed in Mississippi. The specific aims for the study are to: 1) examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (race, age, education, and income) and breastfeeding outcomes; 2) explore lifestyle factors (marital status and body mass index) that impact breastfeeding outcomes; and examine the effect of breastfeeding education on outcomes, and 3) examine the effect of breastfeeding education on outcomes.;Data from the Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey for 2009 - 2011 were analyzed. The results indicated that race, age, education, income, marital status, WIC participation, and postpartum breastfeeding education had a statistically significant association with breastfeeding initiation. The findings did not show an association between body mass index or prenatal education and breastfeeding initiation. In terms of breastfeeding duration, at 8 weeks maternal education level at 0 -- 8 years (p=.001), maternal education level at 13 - 15 years (p = .011), maternal education level at 16 years (p < .000), and BMI ( p = .005) and maternal income level at $50,000 or more ( p = .04) added significantly to the prediction model. After adjusting for the following covariates: race, age, education, income, marital status, prenatal education, WIC participation and postpartum education (Cox Regression) the results showed that women were no more likely to continue breastfeeding at 8 weeks based on BMI (underweight, normal, overweight and obese).;The study also found that the odds of breastfeeding duration to 8 weeks are 1.205 greater for women that complete high school and some college as opposed to women that do not. The odds of breastfeeding duration to 8 weeks are 1.288 greater for college graduates compared to women that do not complete college. Women that earn $50,000 are 1.214 times more likely to breastfeed to 10 weeks compared to women that make less than $10,000 a year.