title: Infant-feeding practices among African American women: social-ecological analysis and implications for practice.
abstract: Despite extensive evidence supporting the health benefits of breastfeeding, significant disparities exist between rates of breastfeeding among African American women and women of other races. Increasing rates of breastfeeding among African American women can contribute to the improved health of the African American population by decreasing rates of infant mortality and disease and by enhancing cognitive development. Additionally, higher rates of breastfeeding among African American women could foster maternal-child bonding and could contribute to stronger families, healthier relationships, and emotionally healthier adults. The purpose of this article is twofold: (a) to use the social-ecological model to explore the personal, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and cultural factors that affect the infant feeding decision-making processes of African American women and (b) to discuss the implications of these findings for clinical practice and research to eliminate current disparities in rates of breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA elizabeth.reeves@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Woods-Giscombé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D005248:Feeding Methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: African American women; Breastfeeding; WIC; barriers to breastfeeding; breast milk; formula; health disparities; implications for practice; infant feeding; social-ecological model