Vanessa Lopez-Burgos, RN¹, Joy Bostic, RN², Rene M. Rothrock, BSN¹, and Maria Lieras³. (1) Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Nurse Family Partnership, 600 S. Commonwealth#800, Los Angeles, CA 90005, 213-321-9537, rrothrock@ladhs.org, (2) Department of Health Services, Public Health Programs and Services, Prenatal Care Guidance Program, Los Angeles County, 600 S. Commonwealth #800, Los Angeles, CA 90005, (3) Nurse Family Partnership, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Public Health Programs & Services, Los Angeles County Bldg, 9320 Telstar Avenue, Rm 208, El Monte, CA 91731

Breastmilk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants for the formative years. Although breastfeeding rates have increased over the years recent studies show thet there are declining rates among the number of mothers who breastfeed beyond six months postpartum. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continuation with breast milk and supplemental nutrition for the next six months. Breastfeeding initiation rates for the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) and Prenatal Care Guidance (PCG) Programs in Los Angeles County are 79% and exceed the Healthy People 2010 targeted initiation rate of 75%. However, breastfeeding continuation rates for clients within both programs at six-months post delivery were only 32%, significantly less than the targeted goal of 50% set by the Healthy People 2010.

The NFP and PCG programs surveyed the nurses and clients for better data collection interpretation, barriers to continued breastfeeding, and ways to encourage breastfeeding. The findings were reviewed and plans were developed withinput from clients, nurses, administration, and the community. The outcome objective is to increase the rate of mothers enrolled ing NFP and PCG breastfeeding after six months postpartum by 50%. The intermediate and process objectives will focus on individual and program policy levels of change. The outcome evaluation will occur byJune 2005 while the intermediate and process objectives will occur on a quarterly basis.

Learning Objectives:

• The APHA program participants will be able to list the Healthy People 2010 goal rates for breastfeeding initiation and continuation.
• The APHA program participants will develop an awareness of barriers to breastfeeding that were identified by clients in the NFP/PCG programs.
• The APHA program participants will be able to identify 3 interventions that will encourage new mothers who initiate breastfeeding to continue to breastfeed their infants until 6 months postpartum.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Public Health Programs and Services Nurse Family Partnership Program Prenatal Care Guidance Program
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.