Lundquist Jennifer, Xu Zhun, Barfield Wanda, Elo Irma
Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA,
Matern Child Health J. 2015 Feb;19(2):419-27. doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1524-x.
We conduct a comparative analysis of breastfeeding behavior between military and civilian-affiliated mothers. Our focus is on African American mothers among whom breastfeeding rates are lowest. The military context may mitigate conditions associated with low breastfeeding prevalence by (a) providing stable employment and educational opportunities to populations who face an otherwise poor labor market and (b) providing universal healthcare that includes breastfeeding consultation. Using pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system (PRAMS) data for which we received special permission from each state to flag military affiliation, we analyze civilians and military affiliate in breastfeeding initiation using logistic regression and breastfeeding duration using Cox proportional hazard analysis. We find that breastfeeding is more prevalent among all women in the military setting and that the black-white gap in breastfeeding duration common among civilians is significantly reduced among military affiliates. Breastfeeding is a crucial component of maternal and child health and eliminating racial disparities in its prevalence is a public health priority. This study is the first to identify the military as an important institutional context that deserves closer examination to glean potential policy implications for civilian society.
我们对军属母亲和普通民众母亲的母乳喂养行为进行了比较分析。我们关注的是母乳喂养率最低的非裔美国母亲。军事环境可能通过以下方式缓解与低母乳喂养率相关的状况：（a）为那些面临劳动力市场不佳的人群提供稳定的就业和教育机会；（b）提供包括母乳喂养咨询在内的全民医疗保健。利用妊娠风险评估监测系统（PRAMS）的数据，我们获得了每个州的特别许可来标记军属身份，通过逻辑回归分析母乳喂养开始情况，并用Cox比例风险分析母乳喂养持续时间，对普通民众和军属进行了分析。我们发现，在军事环境中，母乳喂养在所有女性中更为普遍，而且普通民众中常见的母乳喂养持续时间方面的黑白差距在军属中显著缩小。母乳喂养是母婴健康的关键组成部分，消除其普及率方面的种族差异是公共卫生的优先事项。本研究首次确定军事环境是一个重要的制度背景，值得进行更深入的研究，以获取对平民社会潜在的政策启示。
