243172 Evaluation of breastfeeding promotion, support, and knowledge of benefits on breastfeeding outcomes

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Melanie Kornides, BSN, MS , Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Panagiota Kitsantas, PhD , Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Background: In this study we examined how prenatal exposure to information about breastfeeding from various media sources, maternal knowledge of breastfeeding benefits, breastfeeding support during the neonatal period and several sociodemographic factors influence breastfeeding outcomes in early infancy. Methods: Data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II were used. The outcome variables included initiation of breastfeeding and breastfeeding at 2 months. Descriptive statistics and separate logistic regression models for each outcome variable were conducted. Results: Maternal exposure to higher levels of media sources of information about breastfeeding increased the likelihood of breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding at 2 months and exclusivity of breastfeeding at 2 months. Mothers with strong knowledge about breastfeeding benefits for infant health were 3.12 to 4.10 times more likely to initiate breastfeeding and breastfeed at 2 months than those with lower levels of knowledge about breastfeeding benefits. Prepregnancy overweight/obesity, smoking and lower levels of education significantly reduced the likelihood of breastfeeding initiation and breastfeeding at 2 months. Assistance with breastfeeding in the neonatal period was not significantly associated with any of the breastfeeding outcomes. Conclusion: Interventions to increase knowledge of breastfeeding benefits in the prenatal period may help to increase breastfeeding rates. More research is needed on the impact that prenatal exposure to various media sources of breastfeeding information has on breastfeeding outcomes.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify prenatal and perinatal maternal factors predictive of breastfeeding initiation and continuation at 2 months. 2. Discuss potential breastfeeding promotion activities to increase breastfeeding initiation and continuation.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the data analysis, literature review, summarized and discussed the findings of the study. I am a MPH student at George Mason University.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.