(P27-069-25) Awareness of Breastfeeding Recommendations and Laws Among Women of Childbearing Age in the United States

Objectives: The CDC and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, with continued breastfeeding for up to one year or beyond yet, only 24.9% of US infants were exclusively breastfed for six months in 2019. Sociodemographic factors influence breastfeeding knowledge, but it is unclear if this extends to breastfeeding policies that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. This study explored the role of sociodemographic factors on breastfeeding knowledge and awareness of breastfeeding laws/legislation and recommendations among a sample of US women of childbearing age.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and October of 2024 with women of childbearing age (18-49 years), living in the US Participants completed questions via the Qualtrics survey platform. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, infant feeding recommendations, and awareness of breastfeeding laws and recommendations. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to describe the sample and explore relationships between variables.

Results: A total of 842 women participated in the survey with almost all participants (98.9%) over 20 years old. 79.3% identified as White, 85.7% married/cohabiting, 82.3% had a college degree or higher, 65.4% resided in the Southern US, 61.5% worked full time, and 44.8% reported annual household income above $100,000. Only 55.2% and 24.9% correctly reported exclusive breastfeeding and duration recommendations, respectively. Only 30.7% correctly reported on workplace breastfeeding laws, and 60.6% were aware of the general breastfeeding laws in the US. Awareness of breastfeeding laws was associated with maternal age, marital status, race, and employment.

Conclusions: A significant percentage of participants were unaware of breastfeeding recommendations and general breastfeeding laws. Awareness of breastfeeding laws and recommendations was associated with sociodemographic background, highlighting a lack of access to critical information needed to protect, promote, and improve breastfeeding practices. Targeted interventions are needed to improve the knowledge and awareness of breastfeeding recommendations and legislation among women of childbearing age in the US.

Funding Sources: Georgia Agricultural Experimental Station (GEO00701)