Exploring the Breastfeeding Experiences of Black WIC Mothers

Background: Breastfeeding has been demonstrated to convey numerous health benefits to both infants and mothers. Although the Healthy People 2010 goal of 75% of mothers initiating breastfeeding has almost been met, disparities exist between racial/ethnic groups, with African American mothers having significantly lower rates. Oregon stands out from other states with over 90% of mothers initiating, with this trend holding true for the African American population with 83% initiation. The purpose of this study was to use a phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of African American WIC mothers who successfully initiated breastfeeding.

Methods: A list of potential participants was extracted from the Oregon WIC database and 37 women were invited to participate. Ten women agreed to take part in a 45 minute semi-structured interview about their experiences with breastfeeding.

Results: Three primary themes emerged as most influencing breastfeeding success among study participants; maternal self-efficacy, importance of the mother-child bond, and belief in the benefits of breastfeeding. Other aspects of the experience including prenatal intention, hospital experiences and provider/WIC interactions were explored. Differences arose between African immigrant participants and native born.

Implications: Understanding the link between a woman's perception of her role as a mother and her internal motivation to successfully breastfeed may be a critical component in designing interventions for women at high risk for not breastfeeding. In addition, since each woman's motivation for breastfeeding was quite individual, tailored education rather than a one-size fits all approach has a greater potential for achieving success.