327753
Overcoming Systemic Barriers: A Focus Group Study Exploring African American Mothers' Ideas for Effective Breastfeeding Support
Angela Johnson, PhD, MA,
Program for Multicultural Health, Department Community Programs and Services, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI
Maria Muzik, MD, MS,
Department of Psychiatry and Depression Center, University of Michigan Health System, Women's and Infants Mental Health Program,, Ann Arbor, MI
Background: Persistent racial disparities in breastfeeding show that African American women breastfeed at the lowest rates. Several barriers including return to work and unhelpful healthcare interactions are critical breastfeeding barriers for African American women, who face psychosocial burdens that make breastfeeding uniquely challenging. Methods: This session describes a recent University of Michigan Health System qualitative study of pregnant African American women (n = 8), African American mothers of infants (n = 21), and lactation support providers (n = 9) who participated in one of six focus groups in the Greater Detroit area. Focus groups explored thoughts, perceptions, and behavior on interventions to support African American women’s breastfeeding. Thematic analysis was used to inductively analyze focus group transcripts and field notes. Study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at University of Michigan. Participants share how experiences with family, community, healthcare, employers, and others impacted their breastfeeding behavior and suggests ideas and strategies that they believe will help them initiate and continue breastfeeding. Results: Participants believed breastfeeding was a healthy option for the baby, however barriers such as return to work and interactions with healthcare providers discouraged breastfeeding. Participants felt breastfeeding interventions that support working African American mothers should include education and training for healthcare professionals, regulation and enforcement of workplace breastfeeding support policies, and support from peers who act as breastfeeding role models. Conclusion: Culturally appropriate interventions are needed to support breastfeeding among working African American women.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describes outcomes from a recent University of Michigan Health System study of pregnant African American women, African American mothers of infants, and lactation support providers who participated in one of six focus groups in the Greater Detroit area. Identifies effective ways to support mothers at risk of early breastfeeding cessation.
Keyword(s): Breastfeeding, Maternal and Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Author has significant research, education, and outreach experience addressing best practices for supporting maternal health. She recently completed a competitive NIH-funded postdoctoral research fellowship with the Michigan Institute for Clinical Health Research focused on developing interventions that support breastfeeding; serves as an academic advisor with W.K. Kellogg-funded First Food Friendly Desert (Breastfeeding) Community Assessment Initiative, serves as community Outreach Program Manager, at Program for Multicultural Health, and has authored several papers on the topic.
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.
