Low Job Control and Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding

Abstract

Background: Low job control may predict shorter breastfeeding (BF) among working mothers and may contribute to racial disparities in BF.

Methods: We used demographic, employment, and health data for n = 631 observations from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Job control scores came from a job-exposure matrix.Using path analysis, we assessed whether job control predicted BF and mediated Black-White BF differences. We controlled for education, working hours, marital status, and low birthweight.

Results: Lower job control predicted decreased odds of BF for at least 6 months (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.90; reference, no BF). Low job control explained 31% of the Black-White difference for both shorter-term and longer-term BF.

Conclusions: Low job contributes to shorter BF and to BF disparities by race. Intervening to enhance job control could improve BF.