Successful Practices to Advance Breastfeeding Equity for Black Women: Evidence from a Georgia Case Study
Abstract
Introduction
Many hospitals use standardized breastfeeding practices like the Baby-Friendly Hospital initiative’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to optimize breastfeeding outcomes. However, evidence for additional practices that are specifically used to successfully promote breastfeeding equity for Black women are not well documented. This study explored practices that hospital and community based providers of breastfeeding support and care used successfully to support successful breastfeeding outcomes for Black women.
Methods
As part of an exploratory case study with two Baby-Friendly Hospitals in the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with hospital maternity care leaders and providers and community-based key informants using an appreciative inquiry approach. The researcher defined successful practices a priori as quantitative or qualitative evidence about an outcome of a successful breastfeeding intervention and performed thematic analysis of the data using MAXQDA.
Results
The researcher categorized each theme related to successful practices into a level of the social ecological model (e.g., interpersonal, family, institutional, community). Providing strategic breastfeeding education, demonstrating hands-on breastfeeding techniques, and facilitating re-lactation were interpersonal themes. Encouraging father and partner involvement was a family theme. Advocating for breastfeeding mothers at their workplace and conducting quality improvement projects were institutional themes. Providing culturally matched peer support, and implementing group prenatal care were community themes.
Conclusion
Incorporating breastfeeding practices at various levels of the social ecological model in addition to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding may be beneficial in advancing breastfeeding equity for Black women.
Keywords
Black women, breastfeeding equity, social ecological model, Baby-Friendly hospitals
Conflict of Interest Form
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Successful Practices to Advance Breastfeeding Equity for Black Women: Evidence from a Georgia Case Study
Introduction
Many hospitals use standardized breastfeeding practices like the Baby-Friendly Hospital initiative’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to optimize breastfeeding outcomes. However, evidence for additional practices that are specifically used to successfully promote breastfeeding equity for Black women are not well documented. This study explored practices that hospital and community based providers of breastfeeding support and care used successfully to support successful breastfeeding outcomes for Black women.
Methods
As part of an exploratory case study with two Baby-Friendly Hospitals in the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with hospital maternity care leaders and providers and community-based key informants using an appreciative inquiry approach. The researcher defined successful practices a priori as quantitative or qualitative evidence about an outcome of a successful breastfeeding intervention and performed thematic analysis of the data using MAXQDA.
Results
The researcher categorized each theme related to successful practices into a level of the social ecological model (e.g., interpersonal, family, institutional, community). Providing strategic breastfeeding education, demonstrating hands-on breastfeeding techniques, and facilitating re-lactation were interpersonal themes. Encouraging father and partner involvement was a family theme. Advocating for breastfeeding mothers at their workplace and conducting quality improvement projects were institutional themes. Providing culturally matched peer support, and implementing group prenatal care were community themes.
Conclusion
Incorporating breastfeeding practices at various levels of the social ecological model in addition to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding may be beneficial in advancing breastfeeding equity for Black women.
