Reducing health disparities by increasing breastfeeding rates for African-American infants

Many health problems disproportionately affect African-American women and infants. African-American infants die at two and one-half the rate of white infants in the first year of life and die of SIDS at two times the rate as white infants. African-American women are more likely than white women to give birth early. Low birth weight and premature infants surviving their first year continue to face serious health and developmental problems. African-American women have the lowest rate of breastfeeding among all ethnic groups. In addition, obesity is more common among African-American than white women. The rate of obesity is rising among children and adolescents and is associated with significant health problems, including hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary diseases such as asthma, orthopedic issues and gastrointestinal disease. AIDS disproportionately affects African-American women with a diagnosis rate 23 times that of white women. These health issues are complex and multifaceted and seem at the surface to require costly and complex interventions. One such intervention requires minimal cost, no technology, has no significant risks, and is readily available and scientifically supported. The intervention is increasing the breastfeeding rates for African-American infants. This presentation will detail our successful African-American Peer Counselor Project addressing the barriers African-American families face during the perinatal period making breastfeeding initiation and adherence difficult to obtain. The African-American Peer Counselor Project “Sistah Connection” is facilitated by trained African-American peer counselors, able to speak directly to the needs of African-American pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Peer counselors have been successful in helping African-American WIC Participants increase their breastfeeding rates 47% by providing intensive one-on-one counseling and facilitating group discussions. Peer Counselors bring the African-American women together creating a welcoming and positive atmosphere in which new breastfeeding mothers have the opportunity to meet and interact with one another sharing the joys, challenges and secrets of motherhood and healthy families while developing new circles of friends. This interaction and support is the essential component for breastfeeding success. The “Sistah Connection” Project can be replicated by collaborating with and utilizing the many available resources currently in place in local and state public health agencies throughout the United States.