INSUFFICIENT MILK SUPPLY AMONG BLACK-AND-WHITE BREAST-FEEDING MOTHERS

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ethnicity is asso ciated with insufficient milk supply (IMS) among breast-feeding mother s. A major reason reported by mothers for early termination or introdu ction of formula and/or solids is insufficient milk. A retrospective s urvey was conducted among 42 black and 148 white breast-feeding mother s participating in the WIC program in a midwestern state. The results suggested that: (1) the incidence of IMS was similar for black and whi te mothers; (2) controlling for education, black mothers initiated bre ast-feeding later and stopped sooner; IMS mothers fed less frequently and for shorter periods; and (3) controlling for education, there were no ethnic differences in the determinants or indicators of IMS.