Evaluation of an Initiative to Increase Rates of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Rural Hispanic Immigrant Women

This project was a retrospective evaluation of the prenatal education component of a multi-component breastfeeding promotion intervention. The educational portion of this program, provided in Spanish using intercultural communication techniques, was designed to increase the number of Hispanic women who choose to initiate breastfeeding, using breast milk exclusively to nourish their newborns. The Hispanic women included in this program were all registered with a local prenatal-care coordination program for low-income women, had routine hospital births (both vaginal and C-section) and elected to participate in the prenatal education class. Data regarding intention to breastfeed and breastfeeding during hospitalization were gathered through chart reviews. The intervention group (n= 39) had a 53.8% rate of intent to breastfeed, compared to 37.5 0n the usual care group (n=32), which is clinically significant. Reaching statistical significance, 410f the mothers who attended the educational intervention achieved exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, compared to only 3.1 0f the usual care group. Additionally, secondary analysis revealed that 77.1 0f all participants did not receive access to Lactation Consultation services. Future components, to be implemented and evaluated incrementally, will address the mother's continuous effort to exclusively breastfeed her infant through the baby's sixth month of life, and then continuing to breastfeed with the addition of solid foods through the first year of the baby's life.    Dedication Thank you to my daughter Elisabeth, whose arrival inspired me, to my parents and family, without whose support my efforts alone could have never have led to this point. There have been many hours that you listened while I recounted classes, played with Elisabeth while I wrote papers upon papers, but most importantly thank you for the loving and supportive home, that nurtures not only me, but Elisabeth too. Thank you to the 2011 DNP Cohort. The path we have taken over the past two years has been phenomenal and I am so glad we were all able to experience it together. I am privileged to call you all friends and colleagues, as you each are a credit to the profession. I look forward celebrating with each of you as we walk the lawn in turn. Thank you to the Community Prenatal and Language Access program at Winchester Medical Center. The visionary leadership and truly phenomenal staff there are working everyday to improve the health of the women and children of the immigrant community. A special thank you to my Preceptor Kimberly Pineda, whose guidance has grown into a true friendship that I value immensely. Finally, to the Faculty and Staff at the School of Nursing, whose support and guidance has been immeasurable. The knowledge you have imparted to me invaluable. Most importantly, it has been their unyielding belief in the profession of nursing that reinforced my sense that yes, I am proud to be a nurse.

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