Dear Editor:
We greatly appreciate and welcome Ms. Roig-Romero's thoughtful and well-referenced letter
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to the Editor of Breastfeeding Medicine regarding our recently published article “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding.”
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We agree that U.S. national data fail to report breastfeeding rates by Hispanic subgroups, thus making it difficult to accurately understand between-group variation as well as to provide culturally appropriate and effective interventions to improve breastfeeding rates and care among these individuals. The purpose of our reporting the data on exclusive breastfeeding rates across Latin American countries was to illustrate that Hispanic individuals do not represent a monolithic ethnic population and that country of origin is likely to have a significant impact on their breastfeeding intentions, attitudes, and rates in the United States. At the time of our writing of this article, the data we reported on exclusive breastfeeding rates among Latin American countries were the only data we could find, further evidencing the considerable need of more current and accurate data. We greatly appreciate and endorse the more recent UNICEF data
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that Ms. Roig-Romero supplied in Table 1 in her letter to the Editor. We would like to highlight that although these data note differences from the data we reported, they support our main point that there are large between-group variations among Hispanic subpopulations.
We would also like to respond to Ms. Roig-Romero's important statement regarding misunderstandings about inflated breastfeeding rates for Hispanics in their native countries. Her point is well received. We have no intention or desire to perpetuate these myths as we recognize the significant harm they can cause to improving breastfeeding rates and care that these Hispanic families need.
Overall, it appears we have the same key message that breastfeeding rates and practices vary widely among individual Hispanic subgroups and that better research is warranted to more accurately reflect between-group variation. It is important that healthcare professionals be knowledgeable about these differences and provide culturally sensitive services to Hispanic populations.
