This study examines data from a peer counseling support program for low-income women, to determine how participants; characteristics and behavior affected breastfeeding outcomes. Shorter breastfeeding duration was significantly predicted by introduction of formula on day 1 postpartum in participants enrolled both prenatally and postnatally. Furthermore, in both groups, increasing maternal age and previous breastfeeding experience were associated with significantly longer breastfeeding duration.
The author examines the role, training, and effectiveness of breastfeeding peer counselors and discussed ways that mothers and peer counselors might benefit from the connection and relationship that develops between the breastfeeding mother and her peer counselor.
The purpose of this study was to identify the program strengths, operational procedures, and improvement areas from participants; and peer counselors ; perspectives. Findings revealed that peer counselors and participants were satisfied with the quality of services for both emotional and practical assistance, as well as with the breast pumps.
The study assessed the efficacy of peer counseling to promote exclusive breastfeeding among low-income inner-city women in Hartford, Connecticut. The results indicated that well-structured intensive breastfeeding support provided by hospital and community-based peer counselors was effective in improving exclusive breastfeeding rates among low-income inner-city women.
This study examines a range of innovative practices at 20 state or local WIC agencies. The researchers focused on practices in three main areas: breastfeeding promotion and support (including peer counseling and programs for high-risk groups); nutrition and health education (including obesity prevention, preventive healthcare, and staff training); and service delivery (such as home and workplace visits). For each innovative program, the authors provided background information and discussed the source of the innovation, key challenges, implementation lessons learned, evidence of its success, and the feasibility of replicating the practice.
Mississippi was selected as a pilot state in the national breastfeeding promotion campaign titled Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work; To reinforce the national project, the Mississippi WIC Breastfeeding Promotion Project Team developed a comprehensive program that included patient and family education, staff training, public awareness activities, health professional outreach, and partnership with the community. WIC staff cited staff training, community outreach, and peer counseling as the most beneficial activities.
To evaluate the effectiveness of an existing breastfeeding peer counseling program within the US, researchers conducted a randomized control trial, with peer counseling as an intervention. The proportion of mothers who initiated breastfeeding was significantly higher in the intervention group. These findings demonstrated that, in the US, peer counselors could significantly improve breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work; campaign on healthcare providers in Mississippi. This study showed that this national breastfeeding promotion had a positive impact on nurses; breastfeeding awareness and practices.
This study compared usual care with an intervention comprising hospital and home visits, as well as telephone support by a community health nurse/peer counselor team for 6 months after delivery, for low-income mothers. The results suggested that women who received the community health intervention breastfed longer than did the women who received usual care. The women in the intervention group also had fewer infant sick visits and reported use of fewer medications for their infants than did the women who received usual care. The intervention's cost ($301 per mother) was partially offset by cost savings on formula and healthcare.
This research documented racial/ethnic differences in breastfeeding duration among mothers from seven diverse racial/ethnic groups in rural and urban areas of the US. The findings suggested that breastfeeding initiation rates and breastfeeding durations of 6 months were lower among WIC-eligible mothers, compared with all mothers. WIC-eligible foreign-born Mexican-Origin Hispanic (FBMOH) mothers were most likely to breastfeed for 6 months.
