Social Stratification and Health Practices in Child-Bearing and Child-Rearing

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Abstract
One thousand four hundred and thirty-three upstate New York mothers from 3 to 6 months after the birth of a surviving baby were analyzed by family social class using the Warner Index of Social Characteristics. Of all mothers 13% did not have postnatal care from a physician at the time of the interview; whereas 26% of the lowest class had not seen their doctor. Although most babies had been taken to a doctor at least once, and immunization with triple vaccine had been started, a lower proportion of babies from social Class V families had been taken to a doctor for such health supervision. Medical care during pregnancy and infancy was provided largely by specialist physicians in the higher classes and by general practitioners in the lower. Only 25% mothers ever attempted breast feeding. It was most popular and was continued longest by the higher classes. A considerable number of other child care and infant feeding practices were studied. In addition, implications of this type of survey for public health programs and practices were discussed.