322385
New Mexico WIC Hospital Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Evaluation: Preliminary Results
Heidi Fredine, MPH,
Center for Development and Disability, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
The New Mexico WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Pilot Project funded by the USDA aims to increase breastfeeding intiation rates and referrals to WIC. Research indicates that Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, local mothers with personal breastfeeding experience and specialized training in breastfeeding education, are effective lay supporters of breastfeeding. As part of a clinical health team, they successfully improve rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. A project evaluation began in November 2014 collecting data from 2 participating hospitals, Christus St. Vincent's in Santa Fe and Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque. A third hospital, Lovelace Hospital in Albuquerque, joined the surveillance efforts in January 2015. Breastfeeding Peer Counselors enter selected data from each hospital visit recording breastfeeding topics discussed, WIC status and referrals, and some basic demographics. Preliminary results show that peer counselors in New Mexico are successful in educating hospital clients on a wide variety of breastfeeding topics, in increasing referrals to WIC, and improving breastfeeding initiation rates. Emphasis will be placed on vulnerable subpopulations at-risk for not breastfeeding.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the impact of Breastfeeding Peer Counselors in the antenatal period in a hospital setting.
Identify subpopulations that have lower rates of breastfeeding initiation.
Keyword(s): Breastfeeding, Peer Counselors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the lead researcher at the University of New Mexico's Center for Development & Disability with over a decade of experience designing and conducting research and evaluation. My areas of scientific interest include disability disparities and the economic impact of breastfeeding.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
