Improving the Health of Alaska Native People Through Use of a Policy Change Model and Capacity Building.

Public health training often includes program and education development but not policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country program works to build tribal PSE change capacity. Trainings included community health assessment, facilitation and leadership engagement, policy and systems, and digital storytelling.

Impact of male-partner-focused interventions on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and continuation.

Informal sources of support, particularly the male partner, have more influence on breastfeeding behaviors than formal support from health care providers. This systematic review examined the impact of male-partner-focused breastfeeding interventions on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and continuation. Four unique interventions were identified that were tested through randomized controlled studies or quasi-experimental design.

Breastfeeding attitudes: association between maternal and male partner attitudes and breastfeeding intent.

Breastfeeding is considered the best infant feeding method, yet initiation and duration rates in the United States are lower than recommended by medical and public health professionals. Positive attitudes toward breastfeeding of the male partner are important in a mother's success at initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. This study measured the infant feeding attitudes of low-income women and their male partners using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS), investigated the reliability and validity of the measure in male partners, and examined the associations of the partner's attitudes with the mother's attitudes and intention to breastfeed.

Fathers' thoughts on breastfeeding and implications for a theory-based intervention.

Objective: To explore male partner's perceptions of breastfeeding to inform the development of interventions to increase their support of breastfeeding.

Design: Qualitative grounded theory.

Setting: Participants were recruited and interviewed in two Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics located Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Disparities in self-reported postpartum depression among Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Women in Hawaii: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2004-2007.

Postpartum depression affects 10-20% of women and causes significant morbidity and mortality among mothers, children, families, and society, but little is known about postpartum depression among the individual Asian and Pacific Islander racial/ethnic groups. This study sought to indentify the prevalence of postpartum depression among common Asian and Pacific Islander racial/ethnic groups. Data from the Hawaii Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based surveillance system on maternal behaviors and experiences before, during, and after the birth of a live infant, were analyzed from 2004 through 2007 and included 7,154 women.

How can the University of Hawai'i meet needs for public health education? Results of a students' needs assessment.

Introduction: A strong public health workforce is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of any community. Currently, the ability of the public health workforce to meet demand is being challenged in Hawai'i and the Pacific. This is due, in part, to the downsizing of the public health program at the University of Hawai'i (UH) in the year 2000.