A RETROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS USING SECONDARY DATA: INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE ON BREASTFEEDING AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN MOTHERS

Abstract

Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both infants and mothers, yet disparities in breastfeeding initiation persist, particularly among African American mothers. These disparities are not merely the result of individual choices but are deeply rooted in factors including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which have been shown to impact health behaviors and outcomes across lifespans. Nonprofits and community-based programs, such as Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, Inc. (ROSE), work to increase breastfeeding rates by providing healthcare provider training on breastfeeding support but lack awareness of ACEs' influence on breastfeeding behaviors. This study investigates the influence ACEs has on breastfeeding behaviors among African American mothers in Georgia from an epidemiological perspective. The objective of this research is to analyze ACEs and breastfeeding data of African American mothers to contribute to the understanding of the correlation between ACEs and breastfeeding behaviors. Other objectives are to determine if significant differences exist in ACEs based on region and to determine if the region is associated with breastfeeding behaviors. This study analyzes BRFSS self-reported ACEs data and demographics of African American women ages 18 and older with the CDC WONDER breastfeeding data about infants breastfeeding or not breastfeeding at the time of discharge. Data collected from this query system is specific to African American mothers in Georgia. Binary logistic regression and ANCOVA are the statistical analyses conducted using SPSS for Windows. The study revealed that even when demographic variables are controlled for, there are no significant regional variations in breastfeeding behavior among African American women in Georgia, nor in the overall ACEs scores. This study also provides evidence-based recommendations for including the findings in the curriculum used during the Healthcare Provider Training initiative at ROSE, Inc. The results of this study add to the literature through the investigation of breastfeeding behaviors and ACEs in African American mothers in Georgia. Overall, the study contributes towards closing gaps in maternal and child health disparities in the U.S., adding value to the body of knowledge needed to address the critical public health issue of low breastfeeding rates in African American women in Georgia.