Gerald Wheelock

Assessment of Students' Attitudes toward Breastfeeding

A self-administered survey questionnaire was distributed to 346 high school and 244 college students in Alabama to explore their perceptions of breastfeeding. Only 135 acknowledged having been breastfed. Embarrassment was perceived as a major barrier to breastfeeding; less than half thought breastfeeding should be done publicly. However, respondents had generally positive attitudes about breastfeeding. They intended to support breastfeeding of their own child; thought that breastfeeding was more healthful than bottle-feeding and more convenient; and that breastfeeding is not obscene nor does it make a woman less attractive. Over half received breastfeeding information from home, school, and television. Further, both high school and college students supported breastfeeding education in schools. These findings suggest that although fears of embarrassment is a major barrier to breastfeeding, the students showed overall positive attitudes about breastfeeding despite the regions low breastfeeding rate. Breastfeeding promotional programs should address the stigma of embarrassment associated with breastfeeding.

Does Race Matter in Landowners' Participation in Conservation Incentive Programs?

ABSTRACT This study investigated and compared the participation behavior of white and minority small landowners in Alabama in eight conservation incentive programs. Using nonparametric tests and logit modeling, we found both similarities and differences in participation behavior between these two landowner groups. Both white and minority landowners tended not to participate in conservation incentive programs, and were equally likely to participate in the overall programs, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP), and Forestry Incentives Program (FIP). White landowners, however, were enrolled in the CRP longer and signed up more acres in the CRP and FIP than minorities. Moreover, minorities were more likely to be dissatisfied with program participation and to be unable to afford the cost share. The determinants for program participation vary with program and racial/ethnic background. We suggest new approaches to encouraging program participation by small landowners in general and by minority landowners in particular.