Let’s Talk About Breastfeeding: The Importance of Delivering a Message in a Home Visiting Program

Authors

Sandra McGinnis, University at Albany, State University of New York
Eunju Lee, University at Albany, State University of New York
Kristen Kirkland, University at Albany, State University of New York
Claudia Miranda-Julian, University at Albany, State University of New York
Rose Greene, University at Albany, State University of New York

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2017

DOI

10.1177/0890117117723802

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the potential impact of paraprofessional home visitors in promoting breastfeeding initiation and continuation among a high-risk population.

Design: A secondary analysis of program data from a statewide home visitation program.

Setting: Thirty-six Healthy Families New York sites across New York State.

Subjects: A total of 3521 pregnant mothers at risk of poor child health and developmental outcomes.

Intervention: Home visitors deliver a multifaceted intervention that includes educating high-risk mothers on benefits of breastfeeding, encouraging them to breastfeed and supporting their efforts during prenatal and postnatal periods.

Measures: Home visitor-reported content and frequency of home visits, participant-reported breastfeeding initiation and duration, and covariates (Kempe Family Stress Index, race and ethnicity, region, nativity, marital status, age, and education).

Analysis: Logistic regression.

Results: Breastfeeding initiation increased by 1.5% for each 1-point increase in the percentage of prenatal home visits that included breastfeeding discussions. Breastfeeding continuation during the first 6 months also increased with the percentage of earlier home visits that included breastfeeding discussions. Additionally, if a participant receives 1 more home visit during the third month, her likelihood of breastfeeding at 6 months increases by 11%. Effect sizes varied by months postpartum.

Conclusions: Delivering a breastfeeding message consistently during regular home visits is important for increasing breastfeeding rates. Given that home visiting programs target new mothers least likely to breastfeed, a more consistent focus on breastfeeding in this supportive context may reduce breastfeeding disparities.

Keywords: at risk mothers; breastfeeding initiation and continuation; breastfeeding promotion; home visiting; low SES women.

Recommended Citation

McGinnis, S., Lee, E., Kirkland, K., Miranda-Julian, C., & Greene, R. (2018). Let's talk about breastfeeding: The importance of delivering a message in a home visiting program. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(4), 989–996. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117117723802