prenatal, and medical factors that may contribute to this difference,
we found that teen mothers were 33% less likely than
older mothers to initiate breastfeeding. Factors associated
with lack of breastfeeding initiation in this large
population-based cohort of adolescent mothers are similar
to those that affect older mothers, such as black race, unmarried,
low socioeconomic indicators (ie, Medicaid), negative
health behaviors (cigarette smoking), and lack of prenatal
care. In this study, we found that indicators of social support
and socioeconomic stability were the most influential factors
on lack of breastfeeding initiation in teen mothers. Of all
measurable factors, being unmarried and having Medicaid
explained most of the decrease in breastfeeding rates in
adolescent mothers, and were more influential than black