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Maternal Attitudes and Infant Feeding among Low-income Mothers

University of Illinois College of Nursing, Quad-Cities Program, 639-38th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201 USA.

Sixty-four women of low socioeconomic status were interviewed in their third trimester and again six weeks postpartum. They were questioned about their infant feeding plans, general attitudes about breastfeeding, time of feeding decision, persons who influenced the infant feeding choice, and number of breastfeeding classes attended. Their knowledge of breastfeeding was measured by a questionnaire designed for this purpose.

The choice of infant feeding method was influenced most by the mother herself. However, the subject's mother and the male partner were important influences. Mothers who breastfed were more likely to make their feeding decision before or very early in pregnancy than were mothers who bottle-fed. Maternal attitudes about breastfeeding also were more positive among breastfeeding women than among bottle-feeding women, and breastfeeding women attended more classes on this subject than their counterparts who bottle-fed. The role of education and follow-up by nurses is discussed.

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