title: An intervention to extend breastfeeding among black and Latina mothers after delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare breastfeeding duration in mothers after delivery who were assigned randomly to a behavioral educational intervention vs enhanced usual care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized trial. Self-identified black and Latina mothers early after delivery were assigned randomly to receive a behavioral educational intervention or enhanced usual care. The 2-step intervention aimed to prepare and educate mothers about postpartum symptoms and experiences (including tips on breastfeeding and breast/nipple pain) and to bolster social support and self-management skills. Enhanced usual care participants received a list of community resources and received a 2-week control call. Intention-to-treat analyses examined breastfeeding duration (measured in weeks) for up to 6 months of observation. This study was registered with clinicaltrial.gov (NCT01312883).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred forty mothers were assigned randomly to the intervention (n = 270) vs control subjects (n = 270). Mean age was 28 years (range, 18-46 years); 62% of the women were Latina, and 38% were black. Baseline sociodemographic, clinical, psychosocial, and breastfeeding characteristics were similar among intervention vs control subjects. Mothers in the intervention arm breastfed for a longer duration than did the control subjects (median, 12.0 vs 6.5 weeks, respectively; P = .02) Mothers in the intervention arm were less likely to quit breastfeeding over the first 6 months after delivery (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A behavioral educational intervention increased breastfeeding duration among low-income, self-identified black and Latina mothers during the 6-month postpartum period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Electronic address: elizabeth.howell@mountsinai.org.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bodnar-Deren
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balbierz
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parides
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bickell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support
keywords: breastfeeding; intervention; minority; postpartum; randomized trial