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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Meshawn Tarver, MPH¹, Antor Ndep Ola, MPH, CHES¹, Danielle Broussard, PhD (Candidate)¹, Jeanette Magnus, MD, PhD², and Gail Rome¹. (1) School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-3702, mtarver@tulane.edu, (2) Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 143 S. Liberty Street SL-29, New Orleans, LA 70112

Breastfeeding rates among African American women declined dramatically beginning in the 1960's. Misconceptions about breastfeeding have been passed on through subsequent generations resulting in a lack of breastfeeding role models for the current generation of mothers. This has been cited as a key barrier to breastfeeding in the community. Although free breastfeeding education and pumps are available at local hospitals and WIC clinics, AFAM women still chose not to breastfeed before Hurricane Katrina. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, babies died because there was no access to formula and water. Has this image changed women perception the need to breastfeed? African American women are unlikely to re-evaluate their beliefs about breastfeeding without support from the community, and without convincing evidence and encouragement from their elder female relatives to whom they turn for advice about mothering. The goal of this research is to assess the nature and extent of the influence that grandmothers and great-grandmothers have over their daughters' and granddaughters' infant feeding decisions and if the experiences of Hurricane Katrina has any affect on infant feeding decisions. The results of a series of interviews with mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers about their experiences with and attitudes toward breastfeeding will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• To list barriers to breastfeeding in the African American community before and after Hurricane Katrina
• Identify ways to develop breastfeeding programs targeting African American women
• Discuss ways to involve grandmothers in future breastfeeding programs

Keywords: Breast Feeding, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered