A Breastfeeding and Parenting Initiative for Expecting Mothers- Systematically Braiding Two Interventions
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in Georgia and the US remain disproportionately lower, particularly among Black mothers compared to White and Hispanic groups. While community peer education programs are effective in increasing breastfeeding among Black mothers, the positive effects of these programs are limited by lack of reach to vulnerable families. One method to improve access is through integration within widely disseminated, and complementary behavioral programs for comparable populations. This proof-of-concept study examines Systematic Braiding methodology to develop a parenting and breastfeeding educational curriculum.
Methods. This presentation will describe the steps taken to develop the curriculum using Systematic Braiding including an overview of 1) overlapping and unique program components for the two programs in question: SafeCare, a widely disseminated evidence-based parenting program, and Intergen, a culturally competent breastfeeding peer-educator program; 2) the braiding of the curriculum through a human-centered design using two rounds of interviews among 100 potential stakeholders (expecting mothers n=20, potential SafeCare providers n=40, healthcare professionals n=20, and state representatives n=20); 3) the acceptability and feasibility of the braided curriculum via user-centered feedback from 20 individuals across each of three key informant groups: expecting mothers, potential providers and healthcare professionals.
Anticipated Results. A committee of program developers and experts completed Step 1 of the braiding process -- identifying theoretical constructs and programmatic targets including population of interest, behaviors, delivery mode, program content, dose and length, assessment, and fidelity monitoring. Interviews with stakeholders will be completed in Jan 2025, following which the team will develop the braided curriculum. The braided curriculum and interim acceptability finding will be presented.
Conclusion. This study describes the first steps towards developing a robust intervention to increase the reach of breastfeeding education to expecting African American mothers through a widely disseminated parenting model in Georgia.
Keywords
Breastfeeding, parenting, systematic braiding, maternal and child health
Conflict of Interest Form
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A Breastfeeding and Parenting Initiative for Expecting Mothers- Systematically Braiding Two Interventions
Background: Breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in Georgia and the US remain disproportionately lower, particularly among Black mothers compared to White and Hispanic groups. While community peer education programs are effective in increasing breastfeeding among Black mothers, the positive effects of these programs are limited by lack of reach to vulnerable families. One method to improve access is through integration within widely disseminated, and complementary behavioral programs for comparable populations. This proof-of-concept study examines Systematic Braiding methodology to develop a parenting and breastfeeding educational curriculum.
Methods. This presentation will describe the steps taken to develop the curriculum using Systematic Braiding including an overview of 1) overlapping and unique program components for the two programs in question: SafeCare, a widely disseminated evidence-based parenting program, and Intergen, a culturally competent breastfeeding peer-educator program; 2) the braiding of the curriculum through a human-centered design using two rounds of interviews among 100 potential stakeholders (expecting mothers n=20, potential SafeCare providers n=40, healthcare professionals n=20, and state representatives n=20); 3) the acceptability and feasibility of the braided curriculum via user-centered feedback from 20 individuals across each of three key informant groups: expecting mothers, potential providers and healthcare professionals.
Anticipated Results. A committee of program developers and experts completed Step 1 of the braiding process -- identifying theoretical constructs and programmatic targets including population of interest, behaviors, delivery mode, program content, dose and length, assessment, and fidelity monitoring. Interviews with stakeholders will be completed in Jan 2025, following which the team will develop the braided curriculum. The braided curriculum and interim acceptability finding will be presented.
Conclusion. This study describes the first steps towards developing a robust intervention to increase the reach of breastfeeding education to expecting African American mothers through a widely disseminated parenting model in Georgia.
