Breastfeeding/Human Milk 2: Addressing Inequities in Lactation
372 - Socio-demographic and other characteristics of infants in the United States by milk feeding type: NHANES 2007-2018
Friday, April 28, 2023
5:15 PM – 7:15 PM ET
Poster Number: 372 Publication Number: 372.102
Nicole M. Boylan, University of Delaware, Claymont, DE, United States; Alisha Rovner, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States; Jessica Eosso. Decker, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Michelle Delahanty, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Jillian Trabulsi, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
Master of Science in Human Nutrition Student University of Delaware Claymont, Delaware, United States
Background: Human milk is the preferred source of infant nutrition; however national data indicates there are sociodemographic disparities in the prevalence and exclusivity of breastfeeding. The provision of any human milk confers health benefits, yet little is known about infants who are fed a combination of human milk and infant formula (i.e., mixed fed). Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine the 1) sociodemographic and household characteristics of infants < 12 months who are fed human milk only, infant formula only, or human milk and infant formula, and 2) types of infant formula consumed among mixed fed infants. Design/Methods: Cross-sectional data from six National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey cycles (2007 – 2018) were compiled from the Demographics Data, Income, and Dietary Data questionnaires. The sample consists of infants < 12 months of age whose proxy (primarily mothers) provided two days of 24-hr dietary recalls. Infants were categorized based on their consumption of human milk only, infant formula only, or mixed fed both human milk and infant formula. Additionally, the types (e.g., preterm, term, etc.) and protein form (e.g., non-hydrolyzed, partially hydrolyzed, etc.) of infant formula among the mixed fed infants was assessed. Survey-adjusted weighted percentages were calculated. Results: The sample included 1,741 infants: 24.7% were fed human milk only, 61.0% were fed infant formula only, and 14.3% were mixed-fed human milk and infant formula. The proportion of males and females did not differ within these feeding categories. Compared to infants fed human milk only, a higher proportion of mixed fed infants were Mexican American and Non-Hispanic-Black, had an annual household income of < $35,000, and had less than a high-school education; a lower proportion were married/living with a partner. The types of infant formula that were fed to mixed fed infants were predominantly term, non-hydrolyzed infant formula.
Conclusion(s): Efforts to increase the prevalence of human milk feeding should include a focus on, and support for, under-resourced households and underrepresented groups.
