Associations Between Breastfeeding and Post-perinatal Infant Deaths in the U.S.

Introduction: Initiation of breastfeeding has been associated with reduced post-perinatal infant mortality. Although most states have initiatives to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, no analysis of the association between breastfeeding and infant mortality has been conducted at the state and regional levels. To understand the associations between breastfeeding and post-perinatal infant mortality, the initiation of breastfeeding with post-perinatal infant mortality was analyzed by geographic region and individual states within each region.

African American Breastfeeding Peer Support: All Moms Empowered to Nurse.

Although breastfeeding is optimal infant nutrition, disparities in breastfeeding persist in the African American population. AMEN (Avondale Moms Empowered to Nurse) launched a Peer-to-Peer support group to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration in an under-resourced African American urban community with low breastfeeding rates. A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)-guided project was developed in partnership with a neighborhood church.

Hydroxyurea Exposure in Lactation: a Pharmacokinetics Study (HELPS).

Lactation is contraindicated for women with sickle cell anemia receiving hydroxyurea therapy, despite sparse pharmacokinetics data. In 16 women who were lactating volunteers, we documented hydroxyurea transferred into breastmilk with a relative infant dosage of 3.4%, which is below the recommended 5%-10% safety threshold.

Associations Between Breastfeeding Initiation and Infant Mortality in an Urban Population.

Breastfeeding promotion and support are not universally accepted in the United States as a strategy to reduce infant mortality. We investigated associations between breastfeeding and infant mortality in an urban population with high infant mortality and low breastfeeding rates. A retrospective epidemiologic study linked birth-infant death data for 148,679 live births in Shelby County, Tennessee from January 2004 to December 2014.

A Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative to Increase Breastfeeding Rates in Tennessee.

Background And Objectives: Tennessee has low breastfeeding rates and has identified opportunities for improvement to enhance maternity practices to support breastfeeding mothers. We sought a 10% relative increase in the aggregate Joint Commission measure of breastfeeding exclusivity at discharge (TJC PC-05) by focusing on high-reliability (≥90%) implementation of processes that promote breastfeeding in the delivery setting.

Methods: A statewide, multidisciplinary development team reviewed evidence from the WHO-UNICEF "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding" to create a consensus toolkit of process indicators aligned with the Ten Steps.

Lessons Learned in a Breastfeeding Media Campaign.

Breastfeeding is well accepted as the optimal nutrition for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that infant feeding should no longer be thought of as a lifestyle choice, but rather as a public health issue. In Shelby County, Tennessee, rates of breastfeeding continue to be disparately low.

Changes in Breastfeeding Attitudes in a Metropolitan Community in Tennessee.

Background: The Southern United States has low breastfeeding rates, particularly among African Americans. Breastfeeding rates are influenced by community attitudes and norms.

Objective: This study aimed to examine changes in breastfeeding attitudes and demographic factors related to these attitudes.

Barriers to breastfeeding in the African American population of Shelby County, Tennessee.

Breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for the first 6 months of life, with continuation after the addition of complementary foods for at least 1 year of life. Breastfeeding rates are low in the Southeastern United States, especially among African Americans. Disparities in breastfeeding rates between African Americans and whites are especially pronounced in Memphis (Shelby County), TN.