Factors associated with breastfeeding intentions of African-American women at military health care facilities

Studies have shown that 21% to 51% of African-American women (AAW) reported breastfeeding, lagging behind Caucasian (61%-71%) and Hispanic (67%-71%) women despite breastfeeding's health benefits. This study aimed to assess AAWs "intent" to breastfeed and describe the relationship among knowledge, age, education, parity, and selected factors of the theory of planned behavior with their intent. The theory of planned behavior assumes intentions are immediate antecedent of behavior. Voluntary surveys of 95 AAW who intended to breastfeed were collected at two U.S. military prenatal clinics. The results were that breastfeeding intent was related to AAW's age, education, and perceived subjective norms (social pressures) and behavioral control (success in breastfeeding); only age and perceived behavior-control best "predicted" breastfeeding intent. Healthy People 2010's objectives are to increase numbers to 75% of women who breastfeed. This study notes the importance of health care providers in promoting AAW to breastfeed by initiating culturally sensitive strategies that enhances AAW's social support and personal confidence toward breastfeeding success.