title: The Ability of Posters to Enhance the Comfort Level with Breastfeeding in a Public Venue in Rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The acceptance and support of breastfeeding in public venues can influence breastfeeding practices and, ultimately, the health of the population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether posters targeted at the general public could improve acceptability of breastfeeding in public places.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 255 participants was surveyed at shopping centers in 2 rural communities of Newfoundland and Labrador. Experimentally, questions were posed to 117 participants pre- and post-exposure to 2 specific posters designed to promote public acceptance of breastfeeding in public.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initially, we surveyed that only 51.9% of participants indicated that they were comfortable with a woman breastfeeding anywhere in public. However, context played a role, whereby a doctor's office (84.5%) or park (81.4%) were the most acceptable public places for breastfeeding, but least acceptable was a business office environment (66.7%). Of participants, 35.4% indicated previously viewing specific posters. We used a visual analog scale to test poster viewing on the acceptability of public breastfeeding in the context of a doctor's office and a restaurant. Results of pre- versus post-viewing of the promotional posters indicated significant improvements in both scenarios: in a doctor's office (P = .035) and in a restaurant (P = .021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly 50% of the surveyed population indicated discomfort with a mother breastfeeding in public. Both cross-sectional and interventional evidence showed that posters significantly improved the reported level of comfort toward seeing breastfeeding in public.
authors.affiliation: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NF, Canada alissa.vieth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vieth
authors.affiliation: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NF, Canada.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodrow
authors.affiliation: Baby-Friendly Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John's, NF, Canada.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murphy-Goodridge
authors.affiliation: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NF, Canada.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.affiliation: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NF, Canada.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roebothan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D011639:Public Opinion; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breastfeeding; breastfeeding attitudes; comfort; health promotion; public