142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

299080
Increasing Breastfeeding Initiation, Duration and Exclusivity Among Low-Income, African-American Women Using the Health Belief Model

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Erin Patenaude, MS, RD , Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Lori Turner, PhD, RD , Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Background:  Current rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity among low-income and African-American women in the United States are substantially lower than other racial and ethnic groups.  

Objective:  To review the literature on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity rates among low income, African-America females and formulate evidence-based research and program planning strategies for health educators within the framework of the Health Belief Model.

Method: Articles, consistent with the objective, from peer-reviewed literature published after 2000 were reviewed.  Article selection preference was given to studies conducted in the United States that focused on one or more constructs of the Health Belief Model.

Conclusions: The decision to breastfeed is largely based on elements that directly relate to the constructs of the Health Belief Model.  Breastfeeding intention of African-American women was associated with increased knowledge about breastfeeding, previous experience and positive beliefs about breastfeeding.  Breastfeeding in public, ensuring proper infant nourishment, time consumption, perceived lessened paternal bonding, possible pain and accident embarrassment were among common barriers revealed.  Expanding on and pooling current research is key to identifying the main elements of each Health Belief Model construct that need to be focused on in low-income, African-American females.  Results from new research initiatives and strategies formulated may be used to create new breastfeeding education programs that contain elements from each Health Belief Model construct with the end goals of increasing breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity rates among African-American women in the United States.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how the Health Belief Model constructs can be used to enhance research methodologies and program planning to increase breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity of low-income, African-America women.

Keyword(s): Breastfeeding, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a Registered Dietitian in Alabama working with low-income and WIC populations. I obtained my MS in Nutrition from The University of Alabama. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Health Education/Health Promotion and am an instructor for courses in nutrition research and education at The University of Alabama. Among my scientific interests are the development of improved research strategies and development of education program planning for increasing breastfeeding knowledge and self-efficacy.
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.