Breast-feeding intentions among low-income pregnant and lactating women

OBJECTIVES: Provide a better understanding of the process used by low-income pregnant/postpartum women when deciding whether to breast-feed or not. METHODS: Pregnant/postpartum women admitted to an obstetrics floor completed a survey to determine breast-feeding intention (n=88). RESULTS: Subjects were primarily Hispanic and African American women. Beliefs and referent other were related positively to attitude and subjective norm, respectively. Subjective norm was related positively to intention to breast-feed. Breast-feeding knowledge was low. CONCLUSIONS: Others' opinions clearly influence feeding intentions among this population of low-income women. Inclusion of these significant others, family, and friends within the breast-feeding education process is warranted.