EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM TO PROMOTE BREAST-FEEDING AMONG LOW INCOME AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN.
Contributors: Temple University.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 168
Subjects: Education, Health.; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Black Studies.; Women's Studies.
Description: One of the United States health objectives set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services is that by the year 2000, the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their infants at the time of hospital discharge should increase to 75%. Currently the percentage of those who are breastfeeding at discharge is only 52.2% with the rate being much lower in low income and poorly educated groups. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the impact of a comprehensive breastfeeding promotion program on breastfeeding initiation rates in a predominantly low income African American population. Subgroups which were especially responsive to the intervention were identified. Socio-demographic and health related differences between those who chose to breastfeed and those who chose to formula feed were studied.

The three prong breastfeeding promotion program included: (1) the implementation of changes in an urban university hospital environment that included the addition of posters depicting breastfeeding mothers, the institution of a hospital breastfeeding policy which is consistent with the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and the hiring of a group of African American women who serve as breastfeeding peer counselors by being on site during clinic hours, (2) the revision of the prenatal education curriculum which places greater emphasis on breastfeeding and the addition of the BEST START breastfeeding education materials which have been developed to promote breastfeeding in economically disadvantaged populations and, (3) a breastfeeding educational program for health care personnel.

An Infant Feeding Survey was conducted on 151 newly postpartum women in order to collect baseline socio-demographic data and information related to the infant feeding decision. Sixteen weeks after the implementation of the breastfeeding promotion program, 165 hospitalized postpartum women were surveyed using the same tool.

The program was evaluated by comparing breastfeeding initiation rates before and after the implementation of the program. In low income African American women, the breastfeeding initiation rates increased from 21.43% pre-intervention to 33.09% post-intervention. Subgroups which responded more positively to the intervention are identified. Sources of breastfeeding cues are analyzed. The socio-demographic characteristics of both the breastfeeding and formula feeding groups are also described.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-06, Section: A, page: 2122.

Thesis (PH.D.)--TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0225.