Public Health Commons^™

Obesity During Adolescence And Feeding Practices During Infancy: Cross-Sectional Study, Reem Sharaf-Alddin, Radhia Almathkoori, Hara Kostakis, Ahmed N. Albatineh, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Breastfeeding is proposed to play a role in reducing the risk of obesity throughout life. Kuwait has an extremely high prevalence of childhood obesity (45% of adolescents are overweight/obese) and extremely low breastfeeding indicators, particularly exclusive breastfeeding. In fact, little is known about the association between breastfeeding and obesity from Kuwait and the broader Middle East.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in female adolescents in Kuwait and assess its association with breastfeeding during infancy.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included 775 girls randomly selected from public and private high schools in Kuwait. The primary exposure …

Associations Between Mothers’ Use Of Food To Soothe, Feeding Mode, And Infant Weight During Early Infancy, Megan K. Hupp, Peggy C. Papathakis, Suzanne Phelan, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Weight status and rate of weight gain in the first six months postpartum are strong predictors of later obesity; thus, infant feeding practices are an important target for obesity prevention efforts. The use of food to soothe (FTS) is associated with less-favorable eating habits and weight outcomes for older infants and children. However, few studies have examined correlates of use of FTS during early infancy. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore associations between use of FTS and infant weight status in the first 6 months postpartum. A secondary aim was to identify the combination of maternal …

Breastfeeding Media Coverage And Beliefs During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Mexico: Implications For Breastfeeding Equity, Mireya Vilar-Compte, P. Gaitán‐Rossi, E. C. Rhodes, V. Cruz‐Villalba, R. Pérez‐Escamilla

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Because breastfeeding offers short- and long- term health benefits to mothers and children, breastfeeding promotion and support is a public health priority. Evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 is not likely to be transmitted via breastmilk. Moreover, antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are thought to be contained in breastmilk of mothers with history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination. WHO recommends direct breastfeeding as the preferred infant feeding option during the COVID-19 pandemic, even among women with COVID-19; but conflicting practices have been adopted, which could widen existing inequities in breastfeeding. This study aims to describe how information about breastfeeding was communicated in Mexican …

The Yearly Financing Need Of Providing Paid Maternity Leave In The Informal Sector In Indonesia, Adiatma Y. M. Siregar, Pipit Pitriyan, Donny Hardiawan, Paul Zambrano, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Graciela Ma Teruel Belismelis, Meztli Moncada, David Tamayo, Grace Carroll, Rafael Perez-Escamilla, Roger Mathisen

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: The economic cost of not breastfeeding in Indonesia is estimated at US$1.5–9.4 billion annually, the highest in South East Asia. Half of the 33.6 million working women of reproductive age (WRA) in Indonesia (15–49 years) are informal employees, meaning they are working as casual workers or they are self-employed (small scale business) and assisted by unpaid/family worker(s). No specific maternity protection entitlements are currently available for WRA working informally in Indonesia. This study aims to estimate the financing need of providing maternity leave cash transfer (MCT) for WRA working in the informal sector in Indonesia. Method: The costing methodology …

Breastfeeding: Tools For Success, Norah Ashby, Casey Coombs, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Every mother has a unique breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding is natural, but that does not mean it comes naturally to every mother. The benefits of exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months and supplemental breastfeeding through the second year of life are well documented (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015). However, there are many barriers that may prevent mothers from breastfeeding, including discomfort or pain, milk supply concerns, or simply not knowing how to breastfeed (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015; Westerfield et al., 2018). Fortunately, there are a variety of tools that mothers can use to create a successful breastfeeding experience (Dennis et al., …

Mother–Infant Interactions And Infant Intake During Breastfeeding Versus Bottle-Feeding Expressed Breast Milk, Alison K. Ventura, Megan Hupp, Joseph Lavond

Kinesiology and Public Health

Bottle-fed infants are at higher risk for rapid weight gain compared with breastfed infants. Few studies have attempted to disentangle effects of feeding mode, milk composition and relevant covariates on feeding interactions and outcomes. The objective of the present study was to compare effects of breastfeeding directly at the breast versus bottle-feeding expressed breast milk on feeding interactions. Mothers with <6-month-old infants (n = 47) participated in two counterbalanced, feeding observations. Mothers breastfed their infants directly from the breast during one visit (breast condition) and bottle-fed their infants expressed breast milk during the other (bottle condition). Masked raters later coded videos using the Nursing Child Assessment Parent–Child Interaction Feeding Scale. Infant intake was assessed. Mothers self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, infant feeding patterns (i.e. percentage of daily feedings from bottles) and level of pressuring feeding style. Mother and infant behaviours were similar during breast and bottle conditions. Percent bottle-feeding moderated effects of condition on intake (P = 0.032): greater percent bottle-feeding predicted greater intake during the bottle compared with breast condition. Effects of feeding mode were not moderated by parity or pressuring feeding style, but, regardless of condition, multiparous mothers fed their infants more than primiparous mothers (P = 0.028), and pressuring feeding style was positively associated with infant intake (P = 0.045). Findings from the present study do not support the hypothesis that feeding mode directly impacts dyadic interaction for predominantly breastfeeding mothers and infants, but rather suggest between-subject differences in feeding experiences and styles predict feeding outcomes for this population.

Influence Of Previous Covid-19 And Mastitis Infections On The Secretion Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Nerve Growth Factor In Human Milk, Veronique Demers-Mathieu, Dustin J. Hines, Rochelle M. Hines, Sirima Lavangnananda, Shawn Fels, Elena Medo

Psychology Faculty Research

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) play a critical role in neurodevelopment, where breast milk is a significant dietary source. The impact of previous COVID-19 infection and mastitis on the concentration of BDNF and NGF in human milk was investigated. Methods: Concentrations of BDNF and NGF were measured via ELISA in human milk samples collected from 12 mothers with a confirmed COVID-19 PCR, 13 mothers with viral symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and 22 unexposed mothers (pre-pandemic Ctl-2018). These neurotrophins were also determined in 12 mothers with previous mastitis and 18 mothers without mastitis. Results: The NGF …

The Financing Need For Expanding Paid Maternity Leave To Support Breastfeeding In The Informal Sector In The Philippines, Valerie Gilbert Ulep, Paul Zambrano, Janice Datu-Sanguyo, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Graciela Materuel Belismelis, Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, Grace J. Carrol, Roger Mathisen

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

In low- and middle-income countries, almost three-fourths of women in the labour force lack maternity protection. In the Philippines, current laws do not guarantee paid maternity leave to workers in the informal economy. A non-contributory maternity cash transfer to informal sector workers could be used to promote social equity and economic productivity and could provide health benefits by helping mothers meet their breastfeeding goals. The objective of the study is to provide a realistic cost estimate and to assess the financial feasibility of implementing a publicly financed, non-contributory maternity cash transfer programme to the informal sector in the Philippines. Using …

How Much Can Mexican Healthcare Providers Learn About Breastfeeding Through A Semi-Virtual Training? A Propensity Score Matching Analysis, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, Meztli Moncada, Diana Flores

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Mexico has shown a worrisome decrease in breastfeeding indicators, especially in the lowest socioeconomic level. Improving breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support services through workforce development is a key area of intervention. The objective of this study is to assess the influence on breastfeeding knowledge and abilities of a semi-virtual training for primary healthcare providers assisting beneficiaries of PROSPERA in Mexico, which is one of the largest conditional cash-transfer programs in the world. Methods: Two independent cross-sectional samples of healthcare providers were drawn at baseline and post-intervention in three states of Mexico. Baseline data were collected among primary physicians, registered …

Associations Between Variations In Breast Anatomy And Early Breastfeeding Challenges, Alison K. Ventura, Brittany Lore, Olga Mireles

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background: Mothers with anatomic variability (e.g., shorter, wider nipples; denser areolas) may experience breastfeeding challenges disproportionately.

Research aim: To examine whether variations in breast anatomy are associated with risk for early breastfeeding challenges.

Methods: Participants included mothers < 6 weeks postpartum. Nipple base width, nipple length, and areolar density were measured on the right and left breast separately. Experiences with early breastfeeding challenges were determined through a combination of maternal report and clinical assessment.

Results: Participants (N = 119) had an average nipple diameter of 23.4 (SD = 3.0) mm for left nipples and 23.5 (SD = 3.0) mm for right nipples (range = 10–34 mm). Average nipple length was 8.5 (SD = 3.2) mm for left breasts and 9.1 (SD = 3.2) mm for right breasts (range = 5–20 mm); 35% of participants had dense areolas …

Practical Problems And Moral Discourses: An Ethnography Of Breastfeeding, Tara Ann Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

Universal and bioactive, breastfeeding is a burgeoning biocultural topic because it incorporates biological and social determinants of human behavior. The topic has amassed media attention framed as part of a bigger imagining of motherhood as an idealized state directed at the female body’s performance. This paper questions media and public policy’s role in the dissemination of culture and the symbolic value of breastmilk. This study examines breastfeeding discourses through the lens of an American, mostly white, Midwestern middle-class social structure. Using participant observation data of two postpartum support groups and semi-structured interviews with six primiparous mothers, my data suggests that …

Characterization Of Extracellular Vesicles Isolated From Human Milk Using A Precipitation-Based Method, Diana C. Bickmore, John Miklavcic

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Extracellular vesicles (EV) function in intercellular communication, and those in human milk may confer immunologic benefits to infants. Methods of EV isolation such as ultracentrifugation (UC) may not be feasible for the study of EVs in human milk due to the need for large sample volume. A technique to isolate EVs from a small volume of human milk using a precipitation reagent is described herein. Electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and semi-quantitative antibody array were conducted to confirm isolation of human milk EVs. Count, size, protein content, and fatty acid quantification of EVs were determined. This isolation technique yielded 8.9 …

A Qualitative Study Of Breastfeeding And Formula-Feeding Mothers’ Perceptions Of And Experiences In Wic, Rebeca Almeida, Shawnee Alvarez Gutierrez, Shannon E. Whaley, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To explore Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants’ perspectives about why formula-fed infants are less likely to be recertified at 1 year compared with breastfed infants.

Design: Four focus groups of WIC mothers, stratified by language spoken (English or Spanish) and feeding mode (breastfeeding [BF] or formula-feeding [FF]).

Setting: Two WIC sites within Los Angeles County, CA.

Participants: Mothers of 6- to 12-month-old infants (n = 31) in the WIC program.

Phenomenon of Interest: Mothers’ perceptions of (1) how WIC supports BF and FF mothers; and (2) experiences of FF mothers in WIC, with …

Maternal Digital Media Use During Infant Feeding And The Quality Of Feeding Interactions, Alison K. Ventura, Jordyn Levy, Sierra Sheeper

Kinesiology and Public Health

Experimental research with parents of older children suggests parents’ engagement with technological devices (e.g., television, mobile devices) in the presence of their children decreases the quality of parent-child interactions. Many mothers report frequent use of technological devices during infant feeding but, to date, few studies have explored the potential association between maternal technological device use during feeding and the quality of infant feeding interactions. To this end, mothers (n = 25) and their infants (mean age = 19.3 ± 6.4 weeks) participated in a within-subject, experimental study to explore associations between maternal digital media use and feeding interaction quality …

Costing A Maternity Leave Cash Transfer To Support Breastfeeding Among Informally Employed Mexican Women, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Graciela Teruel, Diana Flores, Grace J. Carroll, Gabriela S. Buccini, Rafael Pe ́Rez-Escamilla

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Investing in maternity protection for working women is an important social equity mechanism. Addressing the maternity leave needs of women employed in the informal sector economy should be a priority as more than half of women in Latin America, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa are employed in this sector.

Objective: To develop a costing methodology framework to assess the financial feasibility, at the national level, of implementing a maternity cash transfer for informally employed women.

Methods: A World Bank costing methodology was adapted for estimating the financial need to establish a maternity cash transfer benefit. The methodology estimates the …

Is Breastfeeding Truly Best? Evolutionary, Physiological, & Cultural Factors That Shape Breastfeeding Practices, Emily J. Green

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Does Breastfeeding Shape Food Preferences? Links To Obesity, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

The first 2 years of life have been recognized as a critical window for obesity prevention efforts. This period is characterized by rapid growth and development and, in a relatively short period of time, a child transitions from a purely milk-based diet to a more varied solid-food diet. Much learning about food and eating occurs during this critical window, and it is well-documented that early feeding and dietary exposures predict later food preferences, eating behaviors, and dietary patterns. The focus of this review will be on the earliest feeding experiences - breast- and formula-feeding - and the unique role of …

Maternal Distraction During Breast- And Bottle Feeding Among Wic And Non-Wic Mothers, Alison K. Ventura, Simone Teitelbaum

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To explore the prevalence and correlates of maternal distraction during infant feeding within a sample of mothers enrolled or not in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Design: Mothers kept diaries of their infants’ feeding patterns.

Participants: Mothers (n = 75) with infants aged ≤6 months.

Main Outcome Measures: Within the diaries, mothers recorded what else, if anything, they did during the feeding. Mothers also completed questionnaires on demographics, feeding styles, and infant temperament and eating behaviors.

Analysis: Mothers’ responses were coded into thematic categories. Feedings were classified as distracted when the mothers reported …

Associations Between Breastfeeding And Maternal Responsiveness: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Recent recommendations and prevention programs have focused on the promotion of responsive feeding during infancy, but more research is needed to understand best practices for fostering responsive feeding during early life. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the accumulating bodies of evidence aimed at understanding associations between mothers' feeding experiences and responsive feeding in an attempt to clarify the nature of associations between feeding mode and responsive feeding. A literature search was conducted between January and October 2016; articles were collected from PsychINFO, Medline, and CINAHL, as well as from references in published research and reviews. Article …

Breastfeeding: The Illusion Of Choice, Yeon Bai, Lauren Dinour

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

Breastfeeding is frequently described as a woman's decision, yet this choice is often illusionary owing to suboptimal social and structural supports. Despite the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) that requires all qualifying employers to provide mothers “reasonable” break time and a private, non-bathroom space to express breast milk, the majority of women in the United States still do not have access to both accommodations.

The Problem

At least three issues may be influencing this suboptimal implementation at workplaces: 1) federal law does not address lactation space functionality and accessibility, 2) federal law only …

Influence Of Overweight, Obesity, Social Support, And Self-Efficacy On Breastfeeding Outcomes Among African-American Women, Elizabeth Hoo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breastfeeding reduces morbidity and mortality among mothers and children, yet African-American women breastfeed at lower rates than women of other racial and ethnic groups do. Higher rates of overweight, obesity, and low socioeconomic status may be contributing factors in this population; however, limited research exists regarding the roles of maternal overweight and obesity on breastfeeding outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether social support and self-efficacy positively influence breastfeeding outcomes among overweight and obese African American women. Self-efficacy and social support theories provided the theoretical framework for the study. Research questions examined whether (a) maternal overweight and …

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, Kathryn E. Brackett

Senior Honors Theses

Abstract

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a worldwide movement started by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that is aimed at providing hospitals with a certification that guarantees the best possible patient-centered care for mothers and infants. It focuses on breastfeeding as optimal infant nutrition, and implements strategies to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively for six months after birth. The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are a set of 10 simple, easy to understand guidelines developed by WHO and UNICEF for implementing this initiative in the hospital setting and …

Prenatal Participation In Wic : Impact On Breastfeeding Initiation And Duration And On Infant Weight Gain, Lynn S. Edmunds

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is one of the most studied federal food assistance programs. However, few studies have examined the association between maternal WIC participation and breastfeeding or weight gain during infancy. Prenatal WIC participation provides an important widow of influence on birth outcomes but also on early life risk factors for chronic disease. This study utilizes a cohort of WIC enrolled infants to assess the added effect of prenatal exposure to WIC on two specific outcomes - breastfeeding initiation and duration and rate of infant weight gain.

Optimising Maternal Sources Of Breastfeeding During The First Six Weeks Of Postpartum, Roslyn Tarrant, Katherine Younger, Margaret Sheridan-Pereira, John M. Kearney

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Reasons For Reducing Breastfeeding Duration Among Chinese Mothers In Ireland:A Qualitative Study, Qianling Zhou

Other resources

Introduction: The Ireland Chinese Mother Survey has revealed a remarkable decline of breastfeeding duration among Chinese mothers who gave birth in Ireland [1]. This qualitative study was undertaken to explore the reasons for such a decrease and to determine the influence of residency in Ireland on breastfeeding practices among immigrant Chinese. Methods: Purposive sampling together with the snowball technique was used to recruit immigrant Chinese women who have given birth in Ireland. Seven focus groups were conducted and thematic content analysis was performed to analyse the data. Results: Decline in breastfeeding duration was not mainly due to the formula feeding …

Validation Of A Short Questionnaire To Assess Mothers’ Perception Of Workplace Breastfeeding Support, Yeon Bai, C-Y Joanne Peng, Alyce D. Fly

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this study was to create and establish the validity of a short questionnaire to measure mothers' perceived support for breastfeeding from the workplace. The items in the workplace breastfeeding support scale (WBSS) were derived from a literature review. The scale was self-administered in central Indiana during the fall of 2005 to a convenience sample of 66 volunteers who were primiparous, 6 to 12 months postpartum, worked outside the home and had initiated breastfeeding prior to the survey. Internal consistency (α) and split-half reliability (r) test and factor analysis were done to establish reliability and construct …

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding: An Introduction For Health Educators, Sheila G. J. Clark, Timothy J. Bungum

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Currently 16% of Americans breastfeed their children for at least 12 months as recommended by the AAP, which is well below the HP 2010 goal of 25%. Breastfed infants receive benefits that can improve their health throughout their lives. The benefits of breastfeeding for children include increased resistance to infectious diseases, such as gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, and ear infections. Breastfed children also display lower rates of chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, asthma, and leukemia. The choice to breastfeed results in economic benefits from lower health care costs and from reduced spending on infant formula. The Healthy People 2010 targets …