Correlates of breast-feeding in a rural population

Objectives: To examine the associations of education and employment with breast-feeding initiation and duration in rural mothers, in the context of environmental, social, and intrapersonal factors. Methods: Data from a telephone survey of 414 mothers from rural Minnesota were examined with regression analyses. Results: Education and employment had individual and interactive effects of breastfeeding practices. Women with higher educations and those who were not employed full-time were more likely to initiate and maintain a longer duration of breast-feeding. Conclusions: Rural women with less than college educations and who work full-time may need the most support for initiating and maintaining breast-feeding.