The Impact of Marriage on Breastfeeding Duration During COVID-19
Author Information
Author(s): Kihlstrom Anna Charlotta, Stiller Tara, Sultana Nishat, Njau Grace, Schmidt Matthew, Stepanov Anastasia, Williams Andrew D.
Primary Institution: University of North Dakota
Hypothesis
How does marital status affect breastfeeding duration across socioeconomic and racially minoritized groups during COVID-19?
Conclusion
Marriage promotes breastfeeding duration, but the benefit was reduced for low-socioeconomic and racially minoritized populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Evidence
- Married women had 2-fold higher odds of breastfeeding across all durations during both pre-COVID and COVID eras.
- Marriage was a stronger predictor of breastfeeding duration for low-income women pre-COVID compared to high-income women.
- During COVID, marriage became a stronger predictor of breastfeeding duration for high-income women than low-income women.
Takeaway
Being married helps moms breastfeed longer, but during COVID-19, this help was less for families with less money or from different races.
Methodology
Data were drawn from the North Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, analyzing breastfeeding duration based on marital status, income, education, and race/ethnicity.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias, particularly regarding breastfeeding initiation and duration.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causal interpretations, and self-reported data may be subject to recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included women from North Dakota, with a focus on low-income and racially minoritized groups.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.29, 3.45
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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