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Breastfeeding Attitudes and Practices in a Rural Utah Navajo Community.
- Source :
- Maternal & Child Health Journal; Feb2022, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p397-406, 10p, 4 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Despite known health benefits of breastfeeding, the Navajo have low reported frequency of breastfeeding initiation and support. We evaluated breastfeeding frequencies and practices in the predominately Navajo community of rural San Juan County, Utah, to identify factors that affect breastfeeding decisions and duration. Methods: We performed retrospective chart review for 135 infants aged 0 to 12 months, and surveys of 85 mothers of infants aged 0 to 2 years, and eight primary care providers. We characterized demographic factors using counts/percentages and medians/inter-quartile ranges, and compared mothers who breastfed for 6 months or less versus greater than 6 months. Results: In 96 infants with complete feeding documentation, 86 infants (90%) received some breast milk and 36 infants (38%) were exclusively breastfed at age 2 months. In 67 infants with complete feeding documentation at ≥ 6 months, 22 infants (33%) were exclusively breastfed 6 months. Most mothers knew about breastfeeding benefits. In 56 mothers whose infants were aged ≥ 6 months at the time of the survey, breastfeeding for more than 6 months had been planned by 44 mothers (79%) but performed by only 29 mothers (52%). Mothers who breastfed for > 6 months were more likely to have been influenced by WIC and less likely to have introduced formula at an early age. Barriers to breastfeeding included maternal pain, latch difficulties, and concerns about inadequate milk supply. Primary care providers reported limited confidence in providing breastfeeding support but would support telehealth-driven interventions. Conclusions for Practice: Practical, culturally sensitive interventions, including telehealth and improved provider education, may improve breastfeeding outcomes and community health in this underserved population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- BREASTFEEDING & psychology
CULTURE
MOTHERS
ATTITUDES toward breastfeeding
ATTITUDES of mothers
BREASTFEEDING promotion
RURAL conditions
RETROSPECTIVE studies
ACQUISITION of data
MANN Whitney U Test
PHYSICIANS' attitudes
SOCIOECONOMIC factors
HEALTH literacy
BREASTFEEDING
DECISION making
RESEARCH funding
ACTION research
MEDICAL records
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
CHILD health services
CHI-squared test
QUESTIONNAIRES
NAVAJO (North American people)
DATA analysis software
RURAL population
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10927875
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Maternal & Child Health Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 155063833
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03247-8