UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING BEHAVIOR

Objectives. This study assessed the effect of unintended pregnancy on breast-feeding behavior. Methods. All women delivering a live birth be tween January 1, 1995, and July 31, 1996 (n = 33 735), in the 15-count y central New York region were asked whether they had intended to beco me pregnant and their breast-feeding plans. Results. Women with mistim ed pregnancies, and pregnancies that were not wanted were significantl y less likely to breast-feed than were women whose pregnancies were pl anned. After adjustment for confounding variables and contraindication s for breast-feeding, the odds ratios of not breast-feeding remained s ignificant. Conclusions. Promoting breastfeeding among women with unin tended pregnancies is important to improve health status.