title: Breastfeeding Barriers and Support in a Rural Setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although various breastfeeding interventions have proven effective in increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration, there has been less success in rural areas. This article describes breastfeeding barriers and support in a rural setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community needs assessment was conducted with a sample of healthcare providers and breastfeeding mothers in a rural area of Missouri. In-depth interviews with 10 healthcare providers and 3 breastfeeding mothers and a focus group of 10 mothers who were breastfeeding or had recently breastfed were conducted. Interview and focus group questions were designed to capture a holistic perspective of breastfeeding issues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gaps in hospital and community breastfeeding support were observed in the emerging themes: lack of realistic information about the breastfeeding experience, breastfeeding time constraint, and lack of continued support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From a community practice perspective, gaps in breastfeeding support illustrate an essential need for collective engagement of local stakeholders as the cornerstone to implement effective breastfeeding interventions.
authors.affiliation: Laurel R. Goodman is a Project Coordinator, Promotional Program Grant, Columbia Farmer's Market, Columbia, MO. Wilson Majee is an Assistant Professor, Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Joshua E. Olsberg is an Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies, National University, Porterville, CA. Urmeka T. Jefferson is an Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, Sinclair School of Nursing, Columbia, MO. The author can be reached via e-mail at jeffersonu@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Laurel R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Majee
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Olsberg
authors.forename: Urmeka T
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Jefferson
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008923:Missouri; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population