 |
 |

A Randomized Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Peer Counseling on Exclusive Breastfeeding in a Predominantly Latina Low-Income Community
Alex K. Anderson, PhD, MPH;
Grace Damio, MS, CD-N;
Sara Young, MSN, RN, IBCLC;
Donna J. Chapman, PhD, RD;
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, PhD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:836-841.
Objective To assess the efficacy of peer counseling to promote exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among low-income inner-city women in Hartford, Conn.
Design Participants recruited prenatally were randomly assigned to either receive support for EBF from a peer counselor plus conventional breastfeeding support (peer counseling group [PC]) or only conventional breastfeeding support (control group [CG]) and followed through 3 months post partum.
Setting Low-income predominantly Latina community.
Participants Expectant mothers, less than 32 weeks gestation and considering breastfeeding (N = 162).
Intervention Exclusive breastfeeding peer counseling support offering 3 prenatal home visits, daily perinatal visits, 9 postpartum home visits, and telephone counseling as needed.
Main Outcome Measures Exclusive breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge, 1, 2, and 3 months post partum (n = 135).
Results At hospital discharge, 24% in the CG compared with 9% in the PC had not initiated breastfeeding, with 56% and 41%, respectively, nonexclusively breastfeeding. At 3 months, 97% in the CG and 73% in the PC had not exclusively breastfed (relative risk [RR] = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.14-1.56) during the previous 24 hours. The likelihood of nonexclusive breastfeeding throughout the first 3 months was significantly higher for the CG than the PC (99% vs 79%; RR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.09-1.41). Mothers in the CG were less likely than their PC counterparts to remain amenorrheic at 3 months (33% vs 52%; RR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.95). The likelihood of having 1 or more diarrheal episode in infants was cut in half in the PC (18% vs 38%; RR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.16-3.97).
Conclusion Well-structured, intensive breastfeeding support provided by hospital and community-based peer counselors is effective in improving exclusive breastfeeding rates among low-income, inner-city women in the United States.
Author Affiliations: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs (Drs Anderson, Chapman, and Pérez-Escamilla); Center for Community Nutrition, Hispanic Health Council, Hartford, Conn (Ms Damio); and Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Conn (Ms Young).
RELATED LETTERS
Increased Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Fall Short of Proposed Healthy People 2010 Goals
Karen A. Bonuck
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160(3):323.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Increased Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Fall Short of Proposed Healthy People 2010 GoalsReply
Alex K. Anderson, Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, and Donna J. Chapman
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160(3):323-324.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
 |
Breastfeeding Status on US Birth Certificates: Where Do We Go From Here?
Chapman et al.
Pediatrics 2008;122:e1159-e1163.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Breast-Feeding Rates at an Inner-City Pediatric Practice
Furman et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2008;47:873-882.
ABSTRACT
Interventions in Primary Care to Promote Breastfeeding: An Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Chung et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2008;149:565-582.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Breastfeeding and Infant Illness in Low-Income, Minority Women: A Prospective Cohort Study of the Dose-Response Relationship
Freeman et al.
J Hum Lact 2008;24:14-22.
ABSTRACT
Breastfeeding Attitudes and Reported Problems in a National Sample of WIC Participants
McCann et al.
J Hum Lact 2007;23:314-324.
ABSTRACT
Effects of Support on the Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding
Gill et al.
West J Nurs Res 2007;29:708-723.
ABSTRACT
The Role of Acculturation in Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes among Latinos
Perez-Escamilla and Putnik
J. Nutr. 2007;137:860-870.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Differential Response to an Exclusive Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Intervention: The Role of Ethnicity
Anderson et al.
J Hum Lact 2007;23:16-23.
ABSTRACT
Evidence Based Breast-Feeding Promotion: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Perez-Escamilla
J. Nutr. 2007;137:484-487.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Randomized controlled trial of a prenatal and postnatal lactation consultant intervention on infant health care use.
Bonuck et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006;160:953-960.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Increased Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Fall Short of Proposed Healthy People 2010 Goals
Bonuck
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006;160:323-323.
FULL TEXT
Increased Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Fall Short of Proposed Healthy People 2010 Goals--Reply
Anderson et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006;160:323-324.
FULL TEXT
Randomized, Controlled Trial of a Prenatal and Postnatal Lactation Consultant Intervention on Duration and Intensity of Breastfeeding up to 12 Months
Bonuck et al.
Pediatrics 2005;116:1413-1426.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|