Objectives: To examine sociodemographic disparities in attendance at childbirth classes, and to evaluate the association of attendance with breastfeeding initiation.
Methods: Parents of a nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of 2068 children ages 4-35 months were surveyed by telephone. The responses of 1540 mothers were included in the analysis. They were asked whether they had attended a childbirth class before giving birth. Disparities in attendance at childbirth classes and the association between attendance and breastfeeding initiation were examined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Results: Two thirds (66%) of the children's mothers had ever attended a childbirth class. White mothers were twice as likely (OR 2.15, CI 1.39, 3.31) as African American mothers to have ever attended. Attendance also varied by education, household income, and marital status. Attendance at childbirth classes was associated with a 75% increase in the odds that a child will be breastfed (OR 1.75, CI 1.18, 2.60).
Conclusions: Significant sociodemographic disparities exist in attendance at childbirth classes. Further research is needed to determine whether improving utilization of childbirth education classes reduces sociodemographic disparities in breastfeeding initiation.