The Effects of Prenatal Education and Hospital Intervention on Breastfeeding Initiation

Breastfeeding is considered an important health practice for mothers and babies. However, Mississippi has the lowest breastfeeding rate of any state in the nation. Because of the numerous potential benefits of breastfeeding, the overall health of Mississippians could benefit from improved breastfeeding outcomes. Using 2010 data retrieved by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey, which is administered through the Mississippi State Department of Health (MDH) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this study explores the factors that influence the breastfeeding decisions of mothers in Mississippi. In the PRAMS survey, women were asked whether a healthcare professional had talked to them about breastfeeding both during prenatal care visits and before discharge from the hospital. Their responses were analyzed using a logistic regression model to determine whether their decisions regarding breastfeeding initiation were influenced by the breastfeeding advice they received. Existing literature shows that women who are offered support from health professionals are more likely to breastfeed their children than those without support. This study supports this claim, showing that mothers who spoke with a healthcare worker both during prenatal visits and before discharge from the hospital were more likely to initiate breastfeeding than women who spoke with a healthcare worker just once or not at all. This knowledge can be useful in efforts to improve breastfeeding outcomes and in inspiring further research