Assessing the Association Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among Black Women in the United States: Results from the 2020-21 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

Bugbee, Caroline Grace

Full Metadata

Overview

Year:: 2023
Contributor:: Bugbee, Caroline Grace (creator); Gjelsvik, Annie (Advisor); Dunsiger, Shira (Reader); Brown University. School of Public Health (sponsor)
Genre:: theses
Subject:: African Americans; Breastfeeding; Breast milk; COVID-19; Breastfeeding Duration; Breatfeeding Initiation
Extent:: , None p.

Files

Description

Abstract:: Background & Aims - Through pregnancy, women are strongly encouraged to breastfeed. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding begins within the first hour of a baby's life and continues exclusively for six months. Minority women, more specifically, Black women are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and meet the recommended duration for exclusive breastfeeding. There is concern that disparities in breastfeeding along with factors such as race/ethnicity, age, educational attainment, and income worsened with the pandemic. The main objective of this study is to examine the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and breastfeeding initiation and duration among Black women in the United States. Methods – Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) were used to conduct multiple statistical analyses. In all individuals, breastfeeding initiation and duration were assessed. The odds of breastfeeding initiation and duration during the COVID-19 pandemic were each estimated using a multivariable logistic model while adjusting for maternal age, education, annual income, race/ethnicity, and year. The association between the COVID-19 pandemic and breastfeeding initiation and duration was also assessed using a bivariable logistic regression. Additionally, the association between breastfeeding initiation/duration and minority status was assessed using a bivariate logistic regression. Results – It was found that there was no significant difference in the odds of breastfeeding initiation during the pandemic compared to the year prior among all women controlling for all covariates, (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.959-1.10). Additionally, it was found that the odds of initiating breastfeeding among Black women is 0.757 (CI: 0.697 - 0.822) times the odds of initiating breastfeeding among White women controlling for all covariates, including year. When stratified by race, Black women had higher but not significant odds of initiating breastfeeding during the pandemic compared to prior to the pandemic (OR=1.56, 95% CI: 0.984-1.04). There was no significant difference in the odds of breastfeeding for at least 8 weeks during the pandemic compared to the year prior among all women controlling for all covariates (OR=0.987, 95% CI: 0.987-1.05). Additionally, it was found that the odds of breastfeeding for at least 8 weeks among Black women was 0.690 (CI: 0.634 - 0.0752) times the odds of initiating breastfeeding among non-Black women controlling for all covariates, including year. When stratified by race, Black women had higher but not significant odds of breastfeeding for at least 8 weeks during the pandemic compared to the year prior for all covariates (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 0.938-1.23). Conclusion – In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with breastfeeding initiation or breastfeeding for at least 8 weeks among Black new mothers. This study provided information that the rates of breastfeeding duration and initiation did not change overall or for Black women.
Notes:: Thesis (M. P. H.)--Brown University, 2023

Content

Citation

Bugbee, Caroline Grace, "Assessing the Association Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among Black Women in the United States: Results from the 2020-21 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)" (2023). Public Health Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:bvp2rbd7/

Relations

Collection:

Public Health Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations for the Public Health department.
...