TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations Between Mothers’ Adverse Childhood Experiences, Material Hardship, and Breastfeeding Challenges in the United States
AU - McCloskey, Rebecca J.
AU - Pei, Fei
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022/11
Y1 - 2022/11
N2 - Background: Breastfeeding is the biological norm and is associated with numerous superior health outcomes for children and mothers when compared to human milk substitutes. Yet, breastfeeding difficulties and the inability to meet one’s breastfeeding goals are common in the United States and maybe more common among mothers who have experienced trauma. Research Questions: (1) Are mothers’ adverse childhood experiences, and current experiences of discrimination, material hardship, and decreased social support associated with breastfeeding challenges; and (2) are these experiences associated with the number of breastfeeding challenges reported? Methods: A prospective, non-probability, cross-sectional study design with a diverse sample who had delivered a live baby within the previous year (N = 306) was conducted. Results: Over 70% of participants reported breastfeeding challenges and 45.2% reported material hardship. Among those who attempted breastfeeding (n = 286), 74.1% had at least one adverse childhood experience; 30.3% had four or more. Logistic and negative binomial regression models determined that adverse childhood experiences, experiences of discrimination, material hardship, and decreased social support were not associated with experiencing any breastfeeding challenges. However, adverse childhood experiences were associated with the number of breastfeeding challenges reported. (The adjusted rate ratio was 1.05; 95% CI [1.00, 1.09], p =.034). Conclusion: We recommend further research on adverse childhood experiences and potential relationships with discrimination, material hardship, and social support to prevent and intervene in cases of breastfeeding challenges to maximize infant, maternal, and public health.
AB - Background: Breastfeeding is the biological norm and is associated with numerous superior health outcomes for children and mothers when compared to human milk substitutes. Yet, breastfeeding difficulties and the inability to meet one’s breastfeeding goals are common in the United States and maybe more common among mothers who have experienced trauma. Research Questions: (1) Are mothers’ adverse childhood experiences, and current experiences of discrimination, material hardship, and decreased social support associated with breastfeeding challenges; and (2) are these experiences associated with the number of breastfeeding challenges reported? Methods: A prospective, non-probability, cross-sectional study design with a diverse sample who had delivered a live baby within the previous year (N = 306) was conducted. Results: Over 70% of participants reported breastfeeding challenges and 45.2% reported material hardship. Among those who attempted breastfeeding (n = 286), 74.1% had at least one adverse childhood experience; 30.3% had four or more. Logistic and negative binomial regression models determined that adverse childhood experiences, experiences of discrimination, material hardship, and decreased social support were not associated with experiencing any breastfeeding challenges. However, adverse childhood experiences were associated with the number of breastfeeding challenges reported. (The adjusted rate ratio was 1.05; 95% CI [1.00, 1.09], p =.034). Conclusion: We recommend further research on adverse childhood experiences and potential relationships with discrimination, material hardship, and social support to prevent and intervene in cases of breastfeeding challenges to maximize infant, maternal, and public health.
KW - Everyday Discrimination Scale
KW - Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Scale
KW - adverse childhood experiences
KW - breastfeeding
KW - breastfeeding difficulties
KW - social determinants
KW - socioeconomic
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U2 - 10.1177/08903344221120596
DO - 10.1177/08903344221120596
M3 - Article
C2 - 36062620
AN - SCOPUS:85138265337
SN - 0890-3344
VL - 38
SP - 651
EP - 660
JO - Journal of Human Lactation
JF - Journal of Human Lactation
IS - 4
ER -