title: Community based participatory research of breastfeeding disparities in African American women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE: Lack of support for breastfeeding mothers has been consistently identified in the literature as a barrier for breastfeeding across racial and ethnic groups. Using a community-based participatory approach, academic and community-based partners conducted an iterative process to assess barriers, facilitators and potential mediating interventions for breastfeeding in the African-American community in Durham, North Carolina.  METHODS: Eight focus groups were conducted with African-American mothers, fathers and grandmothers. Researchers transcribed and coded each focus group and analyzed using Atlas ti. 5.2. Patterns and themes that emerged informed the development of community stakeholder interviews; 41 interviews were conducted with community representatives. These findings informed the development of a support group pilot intervention. The pilot support groups were evaluated for increase in knowledge of attendees.  RESULTS: Focus group and community interviews indicate that African Americans may disproportionately experience inadequate support for breastfeeding. This lack of support was reported in the home, the workplace, among peers, and from healthcare providers. The pilot support groups resulted in increased knowledge of breastfeeding among group participants OR=3.6 (95% CI: 2.5, 5.2).  CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this research underscore the importance of a multi-level approach to breastfeeding support for African American women to address breastfeeding disparities.
authors: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors: Tamar Ringel
authors: TR
authors: Kulka
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Jensen
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: McLaurin
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Woods
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Kotch
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Labbok
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Bowling
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Dardess
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Baker