Initiating and sustaining breastfeeding in african american women.
OBJECTIVE
To explore issues related to initiating and sustaining breastfeeding in African American women.


METHODS
Qualitative design using focus groups, guided by Leininger's theory of culture care diversity and universality.


METHODS
Three different regions of a southeastern state in the United States.


METHODS
Fifteen self-identified African American women who had recently breastfed were recruited by lactation consultants and by word of mouth.


METHODS
Three focus groups were conducted with initial guiding questions. New ideas that emerged were fully explored in the group and included as a guiding question for the next group.


RESULTS
Categories identified from the data were reasons to start and stop breastfeeding, advice about breastfeeding that was useful or not useful, and cultural issues related to breastfeeding that were perceived to be unique among African Americans. Three overall themes were identified that cut across categories: perceived lack of information about benefits and management of breastfeeding, difficulties breastfeeding in public, and lack of a support system for continued breastfeeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Women need to be taught early in their pregnancies about the benefits of breastfeeding and offered continuing support and teaching once breastfeeding is established. Peer support groups for breastfeeding African American women should be established.
PhD, RN, CNE, is an associate professor in the Parent-Child Department, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, USA. lplewall@uncg.edu
Lynne Porter
LP
Lewallen
Darlene J
DJ
Street
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires