Breastfeeding improves the health of mothers and babies. Women who breastfeed have less osteoporosis, and cancer. Breastfed infants have less SIDS, ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory allergies. Healthy People 2000 set a goal "75% of all women begin breastfeeding right after delivery and 50% continue for six months." Numbers of breastfeeding mothers, particularly low-income remain low, as only 50.4% of women on WIC initiate breastfeeding and only 16.5% continue for six months. The primary aim of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate an intervention to increase the duration of breastfeeding in low-income women during the first six months of their infants' lives. The intervention was carried out by a community health nurse and a peer counselor. The costs of the intervention and the costs of medical care for the child were also tracked. Forty-one minority women (100% on Medical Assistance, mean age 21.6 years, 92% Black,) were randomly assigned to treatment or usual care groups. The treatment group received usual care plus hospital and home visits and telephone support by the BST for six months after delivery. Preliminary analysis at week 18 of the intervention (1/28/00) reveals 65% of the intevention group (n=13) are still breastfeeding (with 40% exclusively breastfeeding), and only 40% (n=8) in the usual care group are still breastfeeding (with 10% exclusively breastfeeding). Findings suggest that this strategy is a promising intervention that provides a high quality cost effective way to improve the health of babies and women.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1) identify the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and infant; 2) discuss the preliminary findings of a community strategy to increase the duration of breastfeeding
Keywords: Breastfeeding, Community Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.