The National
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition is please to
announce the
release of findings from the report, Community Health
Workers' Views on
Technology and the Promotion of Breastfeeding:
Findings from Focus
Groups in Three US Cities. This study was funded by
The Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation. Please see below for more information or
download the executive summary at www.hmhb.org.
Community Health
Workers Express Views on Promoting Breastfeeding
Among
African-American Women
Alexandria, VA—The
National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, in collaboration
with the African-American Breastfeeding Alliance and the
International Lactation Consultant Association, embarked upon an
effort to learn about Community Health Workers’ (CHWs) efforts to
promote breastfeeding and how the use of technology may be
incorporated in their work to better serve the needs of
breastfeeding moms. CHWs, also known as community health outreach
workers, promotoras, community health advisors and peer supporters,
work in underserved communities. They address some of the major
public health challenges, including earlyaccess to health care for
pregnant and parenting women, prevention of HIV/AIDS and educating
families about environmental toxins and their impact on health. CHWs
work in a variety of settings and, because they are members of the
community in which they work, have a unique ability to connect with
and serve their clients.
Community Health
Workers (CHWs) in three US cities say more education and promotion
of breastfeeding is needed especially among African-American women.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that breastfeeding
is the best source of nutrition for babies through at least their
first birthday. Breastfeeding provides many benefits for both
mother and child, and AAP further states that human milk is uniquely
superior for infant feeding. However, despite this evidence, many
women are still not breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding rates among
African-American women are significantly lower than rates among all
women. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding indicates that 45% of
African-American women breastfed their babies during the early
postpartum period while 66% of Hispanic mothers and 68% of white
mothers breastfed during that same period.
In March 2002, with
support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, researchers from
The Urban Institute conducted a series of eight focus groups in
three cities—Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; and Chicago, IL.
Seventy-four CHWs participated in the focus groups. All
participants were women and predominantly African-American (92%).
The remaining 8% were Hispanic. Fifty-five percent of those CHWs
with children reported that one or more of their children were
breastfed. On average, participants breastfed their children for
eight months. Nearly all of the focus group participants promoted
breastfeeding as part of their jobs, but this was just one
responsibility among the many activities they performed in their
work. Moreover, CHWs need the most current information available
about breastfeeding, both for their own knowledge and to share with
clients. Even though a majority of focus group participants (84%)
indicated that they used computers and other forms of technology,
educating and promoting breastfeeding among African-American women
may be better met through non-technological means such as
face-to-face contact and developing relationships with families.
Based on focus
group discussions, organizations working in partnership with CHWs
may consider the following approaches:
-
Ongoing education and training for
CHWs.
-
Culturally and age-appropriate
educational materials for CHWs to disseminate to the target
audience.
-
Enhanced access to CHWs for mothers
as well as hospitals and other service providers.
-
Increased public awareness of
breastfeeding.
Based on
focus group discussions, CHWs said they could promote breastfeeding
in their communities in the following ways:
-
Provide ongoing training and support
for parents.
-
Involve fathers, grandparents and
other family members in breastfeeding education activities.
-
Address mothers’ basic needs and
priorities.
It was
apparent throughout the focus groups’ discussions that there is no
single solution to address the low incidence of breastfeeding in
African-American communities.
The executive
summary of the focus groups report — Community Health Workers’
Views on Technology and the Promotion of Breastfeeding: Findings
from Focus Groups in Three Cities is available at the National
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition Web site at
www.hmhb.org
The mission
of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition is to
improve the health and safety of mothers, babies and families
through education and collaborative partnerships of public and
private organizations.
--
Laquitta Bowers
Program Director
HMHB
121 North
Washington St., NW
Alexandria, VA
22314
703.836.6110, ext.
225
703.836.3470
