摘要：Although religious involvement is associated with a number of beneficial health outcomes, few studies have investigated whether religious involvement is associated with breastfeeding behaviors. Our analyses of 2 waves of data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 4 166) indicate that mothers who frequently attend religious services are more likely to initiate breastfeeding than are mothers who never attend services. Understanding religious variations in breastfeeding may allow public health officials to more effectively target vulnerable populations. Researchers note important demographic and socioeconomic disparities in breastfeeding behaviors. 1–4 Understanding variations in breastfeeding is critical given the numerous benefits that breast milk is shown to confer. 5–8 Our study builds on recent interest in religion and health. Scholarship on maternal health suggests that church attendance is inversely associated with risky health behaviors among pregnant and postpartum women. 9 Religious attendance, as well as specific religious subcultures, may influence breastfeeding behaviors. 10,11 Investigating the link between religion and breastfeeding could bring to light potential public health interventions. We used data from 2 waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to analyze the association between religious involvement and breastfeeding initiation and duration. Ours is the first study to our knowledge to examine the association between religion and breastfeeding in a large, religiously and racially diverse sample of predominately unmarried mothers. Exploring religious variations in breastfeeding among this economically disadvantaged population is vital because breastfeeding rates remain low. Because religious institutions are well represented in the poorest neighborhoods, where there are few protective social institutions, 12,13 understanding religious differences in breastfeeding may provide practitioners with opportunities to target programs in poorer communities.
