Examines factors associated with the initiation and duration of breast-feeding and the introduction of solid food and breast-milk substitutes in a multiethnic, low-income community. Survey participants were randomly recruited from households in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and included American-born and foreign-born Cambodian, Laotian (Hmong), and Vietnamese parents as well as African-American (black), Caucasian (white), and Hispanic and other parents. Among the key findings were that: (1) nearly all foreign-born Southeast Asian children had been breast-feed compared to very few of those born in the United States; (2) more foreign-born Southeast Asian children were breast-fed than any other group, and breast-feeding duration for these infants was the longest; (3) Southeast Asian infants were introduced to breast-milk substitutes later than non-Southeast Asian infants; and (4) whether breast-fed or not, Southeast Asian children first received semisolid or solid food later than the other children in the study. Taken together, the results suggested that public health strategies to promote breast-feeding must take into account the cultural background of the mother. Moreover, Southeast Asian mothers should be encouraged to maintain their traditional breast-feeding practices, and other mothers in the U.S. should be encouraged to follow these practices.
