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.
Hypothesis
How does marital status affect breastfeeding duration across socioeconomic and racially minoritized groups during COVID-19?
Conclusion
Marriage promotes breastfeeding duration, but its benefits were 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 for breastfeeding durations in low-income women before COVID.
- During COVID, marriage was a stronger predictor of breastfeeding duration for high-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 2017-2021 North Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for breastfeeding duration based on marital status.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported data on breastfeeding duration and socioeconomic status.
Limitations
The study may not fully capture all factors affecting breastfeeding duration, especially in diverse populations.
Participant Demographics
Participants included women from various income levels and racial backgrounds, specifically focusing on low-income and racially minoritized groups.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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