Variation in Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding Practices Among Non-Hispanic Black Mothers in the United States According to Birth Country

Objective To examine variation in safe sleep and breastfeeding practices among US non-Hispanic black (NHB) mothers according to birth country. Methods We analyzed NHB mothers who were surveyed regarding safe sleep and breastfeeding practices when their infants were 2 to 6 months of age in 2011 to 2014, as part of a larger national study. We examined prevalences of safe sleep and breastfeeding practices according to birth country and examined odds of adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics recommended safe sleep and breastfeeding practices in foreign-born NHB mothers, compared with US-born NHB mothers. Our multivariate models included adjustment for maternal age, education, income, and US geographic region, and infant age at the time of the survey. Results Among 828 NHB mothers, 690 (83%) were US-born, 42 (5%) were African-born, 47 (6%) were Haitian-born, 24 (3%) were Jamaican-born, and 25 (3%) were born elsewhere. In the analysis of 803 US, African-, Haitian-, and Jamaican-born mothers, we found that Jamaican-born mothers had a lower rate of supine sleep compared with US-born mothers (40% vs 66%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.18–0.63). African-born mothers had lower rates of bedsharing compared with US-born mothers (11% vs 25% adjusted odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.11–0.46). Foreign-born mothers had higher rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding, compared with US-born mothers (85% and 40% vs 23% and 13%, respectively). Conclusions Safe sleep and breastfeeding practices vary among US NHB mothers according to birth country. These data illustrate the importance of recognizing heterogeneity of safe sleep and breastfeeding practices within racial/ethnic groups.