Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support: Community-Based Peer Support Program Created for and by Women of Color

Social Media Usage as a Form of Breastfeeding Support Among Black Mothers: A Scoping Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

Social support has been identified in the literature as a key facilitator of breastfeeding success among Black mothers. Over the past decade, there has been a surge of social media groups that can now be used as a means of support for various health and social issues. Social media breastfeeding groups have been used as sources of additional support. A scoping review of the literature was conducted to explore social media usage as a form of social support among Black women in the postpartum period and how it may affect breastfeeding behaviors.

METHODS

Using the 5-stage scoping review methodology, scholarly databases were searched for relevant articles. English-language articles on studies conducted both in and outside of the United States were included. Original studies that focused on social media as a form of breastfeeding support and included Black mothers as part of the study population were included.

RESULTS

After screening 551 articles, 6 studies fulfilled the study criteria. Participants reported being provided with various forms of social support through social media within the included articles. Primary themes included (1) a sense of community and (2) self-efficacy and empowerment. Breastfeeding support through social media appears to positively influence breastfeeding intention and duration rates among Black mothers.

DISCUSSION

Social media is an accessible avenue for breastfeeding information and support. Moreover, it provides a safe space for Black women to interact with others of shared cultural experiences. Therefore, incorporating social media into breastfeeding interventions can positively affect breastfeeding rates among Black women. More research is needed to assess the direct effect of social media breastfeeding support groups on the breastfeeding behaviors and experiences of Black women.

Lactation Experiences of Black Mothers Who Breastfed a Child Beyond Age One

Background: Although it is recommended that breastfeeding continues for at least 2 years, less than 30% of Black/African American children are still breastfed by their first birthday. This indicates the need to better understand the factors that affect continued and long-term (after 12 months of life) breastfeeding. The goal of this research was to hear from Black mothers who had long-term breastfeeding experiences to understand the barriers and facilitators of setting and reaching long-term breastfeeding goals. Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited through a variety of organizations serving breastfeeding mothers. Qualitative interviews were conducted through a secure, online meeting platform. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis. Participant demographics were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 18 interviews were completed and six themes were identified: initiating breastfeeding, deciding to continue beyond 12 months, pressure to stop breastfeeding, support to continue breastfeeding, need for effective education and information about breastfeeding, and overall struggles. Discussion: This research provides insight for developing interventions to support optimal breastfeeding duration for Black families. Population-specific interventions must always be guided by the voices and experiences of members of that population. This research adds to existing knowledge by providing recommendations for health care providers and breastfeeding advocates based on experiences shared directly from Black breastfeeding mothers.

Becoming breastfeeding friendly in Wales: Recommendations for scaling up breastfeeding support

Breastfeeding and the provision of human milk is established as protecting infant and maternal health. However, breastfeeding rates in many countries, including Wales, are low. Given the significant health, economic and environmental impacts of this, the need to strengthen breastfeeding promotion, protection and support is paramount. As part of this, the becoming breastfeeding friendly: a guide to global scale-up (BBF) initiative sets out a methodology to enable countries to assess their readiness to scale up breastfeeding protection, promotion and support by gathering data and scoring progress under eight areas, termed 'gears', shown to be essential for large-scale change. Recently, Wales took part in the BBF initiative. A cross-sector committee, including stakeholders from Universities, Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Health Boards alongside critical friends scored Wales' support for breastfeeding across the eight gears. The overall score for Wales was 1.1 out of a possible 0-3, representing a moderate scaling up the environment for breastfeeding. Six gears were rated in the moderate gear strength category and two ('Promotion' and 'Advocacy') in the weak gear strength category. Gaps in breastfeeding support were identified and 31 recommendations covering six themes for change were put forward. These included a strategic action plan, consistent and long-term funding, a nuanced, cocreated engagement and promotion framework, strengthened education and training, robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and ensuring maternity rights and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute are upheld. Taken together, the analysis and recommendations present a clear vision for protecting and not merely promoting breastfeeding in Wales.

The Relationship of Race and Ethnicity to the Perception of Visual Images of Breastfeeding Mothers

Introduction: Breastfeeding biases, both implicit and explicit, can impact perceived norms of breastfeeding appropriateness in a variety of contexts and influence breastfeeding behaviors. The purpose of this research was to uncover breastfeeding biases, norms, patterns, and perceptions that potentially affect the decision to initiate or sustain breastfeeding and investigate how a diverse group of women perceive images of racially/ethnically similar and different women breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: Using a panel of nationally representative respondents (oversampling key racial/ethnic subpopulations), an online mixed-methods survey was completed by a sample of women who were primary caregivers of children under 3 in November 2020. The survey included diverse images of individuals breastfeeding in various settings and respondents were asked to generate word associations and indicate perceived appropriateness and ease of breastfeeding for each image in direct, timed comparisons. Results: Respondents (N = 144) racial/ethnic identity influenced perceptions of breastfeeding ease and norms surrounding breastfeeding in public settings or in front of others. Furthermore, respondents perceived breastfeeding to be more or less appropriate based on racial identity, in particular, respondents of color seeing breastfeeding as less appropriate among racially and ethnically similar others. Conclusions: While respondents readily acknowledged the health benefits of breastfeeding and were generally supportive of images of others breastfeeding, biases about breastfeeding in public or in front of others and by race/ethnicity were apparent. Community, policy, and societal interventions are necessary to dismantle breastfeeding biases that may inequitably impact mothers' and infants' health.

Examination of Factors That Contribute to Breastfeeding Disparities and Inequities for Black Women in the US

Breastmilk is considered the optimal nutrition for newborns. US Black women continue to have the lowest breastfeeding initiation and duration rates. This Perspective examines factors associated with breastfeeding disparities and inequities among Black women through the lens of critical race theory and the social-ecological model. Recommendations to increase breastfeeding rates in this population include increased communication and educational strategies by health care professionals, education to recognize implicit bias and systemic racism in our health care system, early prenatal and ongoing postpartum breastfeeding support, increased community support, and breastfeeding groups developed by and for Black women. In addition, equity policies such as paid maternity leave and work policies that support milk expression would provide needed institutional support for women in the workplace.