Breastfeeding adoption by low‐income black women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine breastfeeding adoption by 181 low‐income black women using the innovation‐decision process (Rogers, 1983). Data were analyzed using exploratory data analysis and were displayed in coded tables. Social resources were not related to die breastfeeding decision, but there was a trend of breastfeeding continuance for older adopters and women who had been breastfed as children. Maternal complications were prevalent for adopters and continuers, while the pattern of rejecting breastfeeding was related to maternal and infant complications. Contrary to popular professional belief, most women did not consider nurses or other health professionals influential in their infant feeding decision. The combination of technological means and interpersonal contact, however, may have persuaded some women to adopt breastfeeding. Most women who planned to work or attend school postdelivery did not continue to breastfeed beyond six weeks. Questions for future research were identified.