266576 Role of cultural frameworks in breastfeeding initiation and persistence in Ohio's Appalachian region

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Holly Raffle, PhD, MCHES , Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University, Athens, OH
Lezlee Ware, PhD , Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University, Athens, OH
Alison Murphy, RD, LD , Bureau of Nutrition Services, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH
Amy Borchardt, MS , Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH
Holly Strickland , Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University, Athens, OH
  
     
The Ohio Department of Health commissioned this research to examine the individual attitudes and beliefs, social norms, cultural practices and other socio-ecological barriers that hinder Appalachian women who receive Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits from breastfeeding. Group interviews (N = 19) comprised of women receiving WIC benefits (N = 176) were held in Ohio's Appalachian region. A mixed-method approach was utilized to identify facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding initiation and persistence. The study and its findings were framed by the social-ecological model (McLeroy, Bibeau, Steckler, & Glanz, 1988); Loyal Jones' (1994) writing on Appalachian values; and Ruby Payne's (2005) framework for understanding poverty. As a result of the study, we identified culturally competent strategies to enhance the effectiveness of WIC Program breastfeeding services in this area to increase breastfeeding initiation as well as long-term breastfeeding.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how Appalachian values (Jones, 1994) influence breastfeeding initiation and persistence among women receiving WIC benefits. 2. Describe how the culture of poverty (Payne, 2005) influences breastfeeding initiation and persistence among women receiving WIC benefits in Appalachia. 3. Identify culturally competent strategies for promoting breastfeeding initiation and persistence among women receiving WIC benefits in Appalachia.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Cultural Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a master certified health education specialist and work as an applied researcher and faculty member of leadership and public affairs with a specialization in public health and education.
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.

Back to: 4341.0: Breastfeeding (Organized jointly with Breastfeeding)