title: Provision of support strategies and services: results from an internet-based survey of community-based breastfeeding counselors.
abstract: This study examined the determinants of support strategies and services provided by community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) and compared differences in extent of support provided by paid and volunteer counselors. Participants (N = 847) in this internet-based survey were mostly White/Caucasian (74.9%), college-educated (59.0%), and paid CBBCs (63.8%). The majority (75.9%) of volunteer CBBCs compared with their paid full-time (52.1%) and paid part-time (47.4%) counterparts had completed college. Being a full-time paid compared with volunteer/unpaid CBBC was associated with face-to-face counseling (OR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.93, 7.06), use of client-centered counseling skills (OR = 6.23; 95% CI: 3.40, 11.45), making referrals to social service agencies (OR = 13.18; 95% CI: 6.86, 25.32), and helping position baby (OR = 3.77; 95% CI: 1.64, 8.69). Because of the disparities in CBBC usage of breastfeeding support strategies and continuing education between paid and volunteer CBBCs, there is a need to examine differences in training curricula and determine the facilitators and barriers of continuing education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Whitney E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Bignell
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrianos
authors.forename: Alex Kojo
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D024382:Professional Role; D012944:Social Support; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult