Maternal Country of Birth Differences in Breastfeeding at Hospital Discharge in Ireland

Aoife Brick and Anne Nolan

The Economic and Social Review, 2014, vol. 45, issue 4, 455-484

Abstract: In 2010, 46 per cent of Irish-born mothers were breastfeeding at hospital discharge, in comparison with 84 per cent of non-Irish-born mothers. Using data from the Irish National Perinatal Reporting System, we find that maternal country of birth is a large and highly significant predictor of breastfeeding at hospital discharge in Ireland over the period 2004-2010. Furthermore, we find that most of the difference in breastfeeding rates between Irish-born and non-Irish-born mothers is unexplained, i.e., not due to differences in observable characteristics. Our findings suggest that there are strong cultural/attitudinal differences in breastfeeding behaviour between Irish-born and non-Irish-born mothers.

Keywords: maternity; breastfeeding; hospital; Ireland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eso:journl:v:45:y:2014:i:4:p:455-484

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