Do Stressful Events and Racial Discrimination Explain Racial Gaps in Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration? A Qualitative Interview Study with Black, Hispanic, and White Mothers Living in Ohio.

Objectives: This study aimed to understand why breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding rates substantially decrease shortly after birth among mothers in the USA. Specifically, we aimed to illuminate the impact of stressful life events and racial discrimination on mothers' breastfeeding behaviors and duration.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative analysis of semi-structured telephone interviews with women (N = 66; 47 White, 16 Black, and 3 Hispanic) who gave birth between 2019 and 2021 in Ohio.