Purpose Breastfeeding rates in Northeast Tennessee are much lower than national rates and the Healthy People 2020 targets. The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a high school breastfeeding education intervention. Methods Literature review and interviews with regional stakeholders informed development of an educational intervention for high school students aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates in this southern Appalachian region. An interactive educational game was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to provide age-appropriate information about breastfeeding. Health science classes from two regional high schools participated. Prior to the game, the students were given a 35-question pre-survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions, the tenets of the TPB. Education was delivered during a single class session and included information about related health careers. A post-survey was given two weeks after the educational intervention and compared to the pre-test results using t-tests and Cohen’s d to assess changes in mean summary scores of measures of the TPB tenets. Results Surveys were completed by 107 students (75% female, 68% freshman/sophomores). Intention to breastfeed in the future significantly increased from 47.6% to 66.3% following the intervention. Measures of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of subjective norms related to breastfeeding were all significantly improved after the intervention. Levels of breastfeeding knowledge were low at baseline and demonstrated the largest improvement of all of the TPB tenets following the intervention (Cohen’s d = 1.6). Results were not found to vary significantly based on gender or grade level. Conclusion Breastfeeding education is not common in middle and high schools and published research evaluating the effects of breastfeeding education in schools is limited. While this study did not assess the impact of the intervention on breastfeeding rates, the changes observed suggest that an educational intervention based on the TPB may have the potential to increase the breastfeeding rates in the future. Limitations of the study include only having one session of education and a short follow-up period of only two weeks.

Submitted in full compliance with the requirements for a Master’s Degree in Technology: Nursing, Department of Community Health Studies at the Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Purpose: Breastfeeding is a key child survival strategy important for the long-term health of both the mother and child. The number of women in paid employment has increased exponentially, yet very few of these women continue breastfeeding as recommended by the World Health Organisation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the factors affecting breastfeeding practices in the workplace. Objectives of the study are to: 1: Describe managers’ attitudes to and knowledge about providing breastfeeding support. 2: Identify mothers’ attitudes towards breastfeeding and the workplace environment. 3: Describe the practices of the breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. 4: Identify factors that influence breastfeeding practices within the workplace environment Method The theoretical frameworks adopted were the Situation- Specific Theory of Breastfeeding and the BASNEF model. The frameworks together with the literature review provided the background which informed this study. The research was a case study of two multi -national companies in Durban, KwaZulu Natal; participants were mothers and managers in the companies. Purposive sampling was used for selecting eight women who participated in the focus groups, two follow up interviews were conducted and five managers were interviewed. Data collection techniques also included a reflexive journal and field observation. After a thorough review of the data, the main themes which emerged were used to guide the discussion and answer the objectives of the study. Results The two companies reflected a scenario of pressures in the workplace environment affecting women’s choices regarding combining work and breastfeeding; societal pressures were dictating acceptable behaviour. Breastfeeding was not a priority for employers, no breastfeeding policy existed. Breastfeeding mothers were isolated and employers and employees were not engaging on the issue. Conclusions and Recommendations Simple enabling factors within the workplace would allow mothers, their infants and employers to enjoy the benefits of supporting breastfeeding in the workplace; this would be a win-win situation. Government, non-governmental organisations and society have a responsibility to overtly protect, support and promote breastfeeding in society and in the workplace.

African-American women are associated with having the lowest incidence of breast-feeding among ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes toward infant feeding, feeding intentions, and previous breast-feeding exposure among African-American women. Leininger's Culture Care theory provided the framework. A convenience sample of 98 gravid, adult African-American women receiving care at community health centers was administered a 42-item questionnaire on infant feeding attitudes, intentions, and exposure. Findings indicated that mothers choosing breast-feeding agreed more with the benefits of breast-feeding, and were likely to have previous breastfeeding exposure. Formula feeding mothers agreed more with inconveniences of breast-feeding and advantages of formula feeding, and were more likely not to have had previous exposure. These findings suggest that providing culturally congruent education on the benefits of breast-feeding, information on skills to overcome barriers, and positive breast-feeding exposures could positively effect the incidence of breast-feeding in the African-American population. / School of Nursing

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Apr. 16, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-75).

The purpose of this study was to address the aggressive marketing of commercial formula and breastfeeding cessation in Indonesia using an evaluation of a counter-marketing continuing education module. Using a convenience sample (N = 99) of breastfeeding educators and/or counselors, paired t-tests showed a significant increase in participants’ knowledge about counter-marketing after they participated in the training. Findings also showed significant increases post-training for stage of changes, self-efficacy, knowledge, and motivation to perform four key talking behaviors: i.e., involving talking to new and pregnant mothers about corporations’ inappropriate and aggressive marketing of formula, and the risks of becoming dependent on expensive formula and losing the ability to produce their own breast milk. These findings suggested that exposure to the counter-marketing continuing education training served as a brief intervention associated with significant improvements in level of knowledge about counter-marketing among participants and in stage of change self-efficacy, knowledge, and motivation for performing key behaviors of interest. Backward-stepwise regression revealed that higher level of motivation for taking an active role in the proposed campaign (i.e., A Campaign to Expose the Truth about Becoming Dependent on Commercial Formula and Breastfeeding Cessation) was significantly predicted by: (1) higher pre-training self-efficacy for talking to expectant and new mothers about the reasons to breastfeed their infant (β = .327, SEB = .118, p = .007); (2) lower pre-training knowledge for talking to expectant and new mothers about corporations’ inappropriate and aggressive marketing of commercial infant formula (β = -.270, SEB = .092, p = .004); and, (3) higher level of knowledge for taking an active role in the proposed campaign (β = .392, SEB = .083, p = .000). Participants rated the training as very good (74.7%, n = 74). Qualitative data showed that the training provided new knowledge and a new approach in addressing aggressive formula marketing by corporations. Further, participants found that the training has made them more confident and motivated to work with mothers and the community to advocate and educate about negative impacts from commercial formula.

Arguing that current discourse surrounding breastfeeding and the lactating body promotes management of the female body, I attempt to devise an explanation of the breastfeeding apparatus and its strategies. In this study, the strategies include visual and linguistic representations of breastfeeding through art, promotional materials for advertisement and recommendations from the medical community, and the language used in the legal protection of breastfeeding. Using a rhetorical lens, I explore how these varied junctions operate within the breastfeeding apparatus and how breastfeeding is both a product of and a product in the technology. I seek to find what else is at work and how breastfeeding functions as a discursive element in its own right, allowing it to function as an apparatus for control. Finally, I question the potential for resistance in breastfeeding, asking if the lactating body has options, or is the subject so policed and managed that decisions are dictated by the breastfeeding apparatus.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Biomedical technology)) - Central University of technology, Free State, 2013 / Thirty-one years after the discovery and isolation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by French and American scientists, much progress has been made in basic research, clinical treatment, and public heath prevention. Although, much evidence of mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of HIV has been amassed since then, not much of it describes the effects of HIV on the nutrient composition of breast milk. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of HIV on the nutrient composition of breast milk, by studying two groups of adult lactating respondents from the same socio-economic background, who were chosen randomly and participated voluntarily. The study population consisted of 60 breastfeeding mothers, divided into two groups of 30 mothers each. Group one represented the control group of HIV non-infected mothers whereas group two consisted of HIV-infected mothers who did not receive any treatment. After a registered medical nurse took blood and breast milk samples, analysis was done on ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) whole blood to determine the haematological and immunological parameters and breast milk was analyzed for nutrient composition. Standard laboratory operating procedures (SOP) were followed, throughout, to determine the parameters of the blood and breast milk samples. Results showed that associations between the socio-economic statuses (SES) of the two respondent groups could be established. Albeit differences were not significant, some were, however, detected in the number of people contributing to the household income of the respondents (p = 0.0051), their employment status (p < 0.0001) and the availability of water sources (p = 0.1124). It is believed that factors, such as the prevalence of HIV, if related to the different levels of SES may play an important role in the outcome of the health statuses of individuals at different levels of society. By implication, it is not the different levels of SES, but rather factors related to the different levels of SES that have an impact. Significant differences could be seen in the haematological variables between the two respondent groups: Red blood cell count (RBC) (p < 0.0001), hemoglobin (Hb) levels (p = 0.0119), hematocrit (Hct) (p = 0.0031), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (p = 0.0005), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (p = 0.0043) and monocyte count (p = 0.0275). These differences, however, were not significant to this study. Other differences that were significant were immunological parameters between the two respondent groups: CD4 cell count (p < 0.0001) and viral load, done only on the blood of the HIV-infected respondent group. The CD4 cell count is used as a guideline for the initiation of treatment for HIV-infected persons and is required to accurately assess the immune status of any patient at any given time. The viral load has long been established as a strong predictor of the rate of disease progression. The only significant difference in the breast milk composition was reflected in the following variables between the two groups: percentage (%) proteins (p < 0.0001) and calcium levels (p = 0.0081). The median and mean values of the percentage proteins were elevated in the subject group of mothers living with HIV, while calcium levels in the same group showed a decrease in both median and mean values. The lack of significant differences between the groups might be due to the small study population. If nothing else, this study highlights the need for further trials to evaluate the true effects of HIV on the nutrient composition of breast milk.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T17:26:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 m.pdf: 562847 bytes, checksum: e678b218ac0d3ffc4a3361f6837de09a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-05-25 / Objectives: To measure exclusive breastfeeding indexes in the first month of life and compare the feeding practices of children born in hospital which adopts the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, with the other hospitals of the city. Methods: Quasi-experimental study, nested in a cohort. 973 mother-baby pairs were randomly chosen for home follow-up from an initial sample of 2741 mothers (hospital screening). Results: Being born in hospitals which did not adopt the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative has increased the risk of having mothers who were not stimulated to breastfeed, of babies not suckling in the first hour and received pacifier and tea at the hospital.The prevalence of one-month exclusive breastfeeding was of 60%. Children born in hospital which adopts Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative had a larger rate of one-month exclusive breastfeeding and the use of pacifier has shown a negative association with the outcome. Conclusions: The intervention was positive and, probably, the impact would be bigger if the implementation of ten steps were total during the data collection phase. The breastfeeding promotion efforts should continue after the patient is released through the formation of counseling groups to the mothers. / Objetivos: Medir os índices de aleitamento materno exclusivo no primeiro mês de vida e comparar o padrão alimentar das crianças nascidas no hospital que adota a Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da Criança, com os demais hospitais da cidade. Métodos: Estudo quase-experimental, aninhado a uma coorte. Foram selecionados, aleatoriamente, 973 pares mãe-bebê para o acompanhamento domiciliar a partir de uma amostra inicial de 2741 mães ( triagem hospitalar). Resultados: Nascer em hospitais que não adotam a Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da criança, aumentou o risco das mães não terem sido incentivadas para o aleitamento materno, dos bebês não mamarem na primeira hora e receberem chupeta e chá, no hospital. A prevalência de aleitamento exclusivo com um mês foi de 60%. As crianças nascidas no hospital que adota a Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da Criança tiveram maior índice de aleitamento exclusivo com um mês e o uso de chupeta mostrou uma associação negativa com o desfecho. Conclusões: A intervenção foi positiva e, provavelmente, o impacto seria maior, se a implantação dos dez passos já fosse total, na fase da coleta de dados. O incentivo ao aleitamento materno deve continuar, após a alta, através da formação de grupos de aconselhamento às mães.

Aim: To evaluate the primary health care professionals‘ practice of promoting and supporting breastfeeding in Kaunas city. Objectives: 1.) To evaluate knowledge and breastfeeding practice of mothers who have a baby of age less than 1 year; 2.) To evaluate knowledge and activity of primary health care professionals in promoting breastfeeding; 3.) To compare breastfeeding practice promoted by professionals of primary health care centers with breastfeeding practice of mothers; 4.) To compare the activity of primary health care professionals in informing mothers about breastfeeding with mothers’ evaluation of this activity. Method of assessment: Anonymous questionnaire. 407 questionnaires for mothers were distributed in 26 family clinics, GP’s offices (284 questionnaires returned – 69.8 %) and to all primary health care professionals (84 general practitioners and 52 general practice nurses). 51 questionnaire returned – 60.7 % of GP and 40 questionnaires – 76.9 % of general practice nurses. Data analysis was made with Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS (12.0 v.). Microsoft Excel was used for diagrams and tables. Results: Only 62.7 % of questioned mothers were breastfed their babies. Only 42.3 % of mothers were breastfed their babies till their age of 6 months. Only 6 % of mothers were trying to breastfeed their babies more often after reduction of milk in breasts; 8.5 % of mothers were breastfed according regimen; 31 % of mothers were giving pacifiers to their... [to full text]

This diploma thesis deals with the degree of autonomy of women in the issue of breastfeeding in the Czech environment. It examines in particular the form of current breastfeeding and its normativity through narativ interviews with women who had breastfeeding experience. The aim of this work is to expose the form of the current brestfeeding standard, its limits, negativity and impacts through feminist optics and offer possible solutions in the discourse of breastfeeding. The basic theoretical starting point of the thesis is the development of infant feeding standards, its promotion and legislative anchoring in the Czech Republic as social approach of brestfeeding as well. In particular, the thesis deals with the feminist critique of the discourse of the fight, which provides the necessary arguments for looking at the phenomenon of breastfeeding standard in a different way and introducing the standard as social and cultural constructed. The analysis is the result of introducing current breastfeeding standards in the Czech republic as a directive reuqirement towards women to breastfeed which threatens women's integrity. Keywords breastfeeding standard, breastfeeding support strategy, breastfeeding promotion, feminist critique, breastfeeding experience