Journal article
Developing a Framework for Culturally Sensitive Breastfeeding Interventions: A Community Needs Assessment of Breastfeeding Experiences and Practices in a Black Immigrant Community
Nutrients, Vol.17(13), 2094
06/24/2025
DOI: 10.3390/nu17132094
PMCID: PMC12250864
PMID: 40647199
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Despite high breastfeeding initiation rates nationwide, disparities in breastfeeding continuation among Black mothers remain a public health issue. The BreastFeed Iowa Black Immigrant Project aimed to improve breastfeeding rates among low-income Black immigrant mother-infant dyads in Johnson County, Iowa by exploring factors influencing breastfeeding retention and developing a framework for culturally sensitive breastfeeding interventions. Methods: Using a descriptive cross-sectional study design, we employed a convergent, parallel mixed-methods approach to explore factors that influence breastfeeding duration among Black immigrant mothers with children 0–2 years old. Nine focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted on Zoom among 40 participants with a semi-structured guide on breastfeeding beliefs, experiences, and feeding practices. Additionally, a 22-item survey was administered to 33 participants. Results: Based on the survey, one out of five participants indicated that they were unable to breastfeed for as long as they had planned. The top five reasons why mothers stopped breastfeeding included having received formula from the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; being sick and having to take medicine; the baby was hungry too often; the baby was sick and could not breastfeed; and not producing enough milk. The top five themes that emerged from FGDs as barriers to breastfeeding included lack of lactation support, knowledge gaps on breastfeeding benefits, perception of inadequate milk supply, lack of comfort with breast milk expression, and work-related barriers. Conclusions: The community needs assessment identified the elements needed to develop a culturally sensitive framework with targeted interventions to address breastfeeding barriers in the Black immigrant community.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Developing a Framework for Culturally Sensitive Breastfeeding Interventions: A Community Needs Assessment of Breastfeeding Experiences and Practices in a Black Immigrant Community
- Creators
- Temitope Awelewa - University of IowaAlexandra Murra - University of IowaWilliam T. Story - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Nutrients, Vol.17(13), 2094
- DOI
- 10.3390/nu17132094
- PMID
- 40647199
- PMCID
- PMC12250864
- NLM abbreviation
- Nutrients
- ISSN
- 2072-6643
- eISSN
- 2072-6643
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Grant note
- American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health (CATCH)American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health
This project was funded by the American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) implementation grant-2021 CATCH Implementation grant.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/24/2025
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Family and Community Medicine; Community and Behavioral Health; General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984843598802771
Metrics
8 Record Views