Oral

There continues to be many challenges impacting the realization of the HP 2010 goals for breastfeeding initiation (goal is 75% in the early postpartum period) and duration (goal is 50% at 6 months and 25% at year of age). These challenges include the level of breastfeeding knowledege of health care providers and their ability to assist prenatal and postpartum women. The impact of race, ethnicity, acculturation, educational level, income level and employment status on the initiation and duration of breastfeeding continues to be analyzed. This session will allow the participant to learn about these issues impacting the initiation and duration of breastfeeding.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe the effect of a health care provider intensive education course on the breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity at four Massachusetts hospital with low breastfeeding rates. 2. Articulate the impact of the use of single-use electric breast pumps vs. WIC loaned electric breast pumps on the duration of breastfeeding in a pilot study of WIC paricipants in Colorado. 3. Describe the differences in breastfeeding initiation and duration among Hispanics living on the US-Mexico border, considering the association of acculturation and education on breastfeeding rates. 4. Identify and describe the race-income variations in breastfeeding initiation rates from a 3-year comparative analysis of 30,000+ infants in the Maryland WIC Program.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing