Maternal and Child Health Commons^™

Effectiveness Of Peer Counseling And Membership In Breastfeeding Support Groups In Promoting Optimal Breastfeeding Behaviors In The Philippines, Ofelia P. Saniel, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Arianna Maever L. Amit

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months remain low in the Philippines. To help meet the 90% early initiation of breastfeeding target and to improve infant and young child feeding practices in the Philippines, the Millennium Development Goals - Fund 2030 Joint Programme (JP) on Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition for Children 0–24 months old was implemented. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of visits by peer counselors during pregnancy and after delivery, and membership in breastfeeding support groups in promoting these optimal breastfeeding practices.

Methods

We used data from the Endline …

Momhealth: A Feasibility Study Of A Multibehavioral Health Intervention For Pregnant And Parenting Adolescent Mothers., Karen A. Wambach, Ann M. Davis, Eve Lynn Nelson, Kelli Snow, Annie Yungmeyer, Rachel Muzzy, Karman Romero, Megan Murray

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction: In 2016, 209,809 babies were born to mothers 15 - 19 years of age, for a live birth rate of 20.3 per 1,000 in this age group. Many health issues surround adolescent mothers and their infants, many of which can be addressed through behavioral change. The main purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and relevance of momHealth, an innovative multiple health behavior change (MHBC) education and support mHealth intervention, focused on breastfeeding, healthy eating and active living, and depression prevention among pregnant and parenting adolescents. We also evaluated the proposed online surveys and physical …

Breastfeeding Education Support Tool For Baby (Best4baby): Feasibility, Acceptability, And Preliminary Impact Of An Mhealth Supported Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Intervention In Rural India, Parth D. Lalakia, Vanessa L. Short, Roopa M. Bellad, Patricia J. Kelly, Yukiko Washio, Tony Ma, Katie Chang, Niranjana Majantashetti, Umesh S. Charantimath, Frances J. Jaeger, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Richard J. Derman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of an mHealth-supported breastfeeding peer counselor intervention implemented in rural India and the preliminary impact of the intervention on maternal breastfeeding behaviors, including exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).

Methods: In this quasi-experimental pilot study, participants received either the intervention plus usual care (n = 110) or usual care alone (n = 112). The intervention group received nine in-home visits during and after pregnancy from peer counselors who provided education about and support for EBF and other optimal infant feeding practices and were aided with an mHealth tool. The control group received routine prenatal and postnatal health education. …

Tiny Tusks Internship: An Analysis Of Exclusive Breastfeeding In Low Income Women, Brittany Jones

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to the fact that formula feeding is often seen as the “easier” option for some women, this literature analysis was conducted to gain an understanding about factors which influence the perception of breastfeeding in low-income populations. This literature review analyzed the factors which influence reduced rates of breastfeeding in lower income populations and the importance of breastfeeding education to this population. A search through CINAHL and PubMed for journal articles dating from 2016 to 2021 was conducted. The search generated 46 studies, 40 from CINAHL and 6 from PubMed. Study eligibility was determined by looking for articles involving low …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Marketing Towards Breastfeeding: How Marketing Can Either Help Or Hinder How Breastfeeding Is Perceived, Hailey Tremmel

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support is a program run by faculty and students in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing program that allows for breastfeeding mothers in attendance at the University of Arkansas sporting events to have a place to pump or provide care to their infant. How marketing towards breastfeeding is portrayed has a huge impact on helping breastfeeding mothers to feel properly educated and supported about the decision to breastfeed. The purpose of this literature review is to demonstrate how marketing tactics can affect the view of breastfeeding, whether that be positive or negative. The results found …

Tiny Tusks Internship: The Importance Of Breastfeeding Education In The Workplace, Gianna Hogan

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding education in public, especially in the workplace, is a concept that has a multitude of different perspectives. Research has shown that breastfeeding has many positive effects on mother and baby, that can be lessened due to the lack of breastfeeding support in various organizations. In this literature review, barriers to breastfeeding in the workplace were analyzed in order to understand the effects these barriers have on breastfeeding duration. In addition, this review helped emphasize the need for policies to be enacted in the workplace to better support breastfeeding mothers, and the impact these policies have on employee retention rates …

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 …

A Public Health Approach For Deciding Policy On Infant Feeding And Mother-Infant Contact In The Context Of Covid-19, Nigel Rollins, Nicole Minckas, Fyezah Jehan, Rakesh Lodha, Daniel Raiten, Claire Thorne, Philippe Van De Perre, Mija Ververs, Neff Walker, Rajiv Bahl

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concern about the possibility and effects of mother-infant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through breastfeeding and close contact. The insufficient available evidence has resulted in differing recommendations by health professional associations and national health authorities. We present an approach for deciding public health policy on infant feeding and mother-infant contact in the context of COVID-19, or for future emerging viruses, that balances the risks that are associated with viral infection against child survival, lifelong health, and development, and also maternal health. Using the Lives Saved Tool, we used available data to show how different public health approaches …

Data On Breastfeeding And State Policies In The United States, Chun Chen, Hong Xue, Qi Zhang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Breastfeeding is critically important to maternal and child health in the United States. Examining the relationship between breastfeeding outcomes and state policies requires multidisciplinary efforts to link data from various sources. This article describes an integrated dataset that was used to understand the relationship between participation in a nutrition assistance program and low-income children's breastfeeding outcomes [1]. This dataset merged public health information from the National Immunization Surveys Data from 2006 to 2016 and matching state policy data from the Correlates of State Policy Project (CSPP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Services (USDA/ERS) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy …

Costs Of Maternity Leave To Support Breastfeeding; Brazil, Ghana And Mexico, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Graciela M. Teruel, Diana Flores-Peregrina, Grace J. Carroll, Gabriela S. Buccini, Rafael Perez-Escamilla

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective To develop a method to assess the cost of extending the duration of maternity leave for formally-employed women at the national level and apply it in Brazil, Ghana and Mexico. Methods We adapted a World Bank costing method into a five-step method to estimate the costs of extending the length of maternity leave mandates. Our method used the unit cost of maternity leave based on working women’s weekly wages; the number of additional weeks of maternity leave to be analysed for a given year; and the weighted population of women of reproductive and legal working age in a given …

Feminism And Low Breastfeeding Rates In France, Megan Wadsworth

Honors Theses

Breastfeeding rates in France are among the lowest in high-income countries, indicating that French mothers do not breastfeed for nearly as long as is recommended by healthcare professionals and international health organizations. French government, society and conflicting feminist perspectives all influence the likelihood that mothers will breastfeed. The French government has regulations in place to protect women’s right to breastfeed in public and in the workplace, but it is unclear if these are truly beneficial for French women. French society is a seemingly inhospitable environment in which mothers do not feel safe and secure to breastfeed publicly. Motherhood and feminism …

Supporting The Role And Transition To Motherhood Through The Occupation Of Feeding, Bethanne N. Vidmar

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this capstone was to assess and explore the occupational needs of mothers who are feeding their infants in a variety of ways to then identify psychosocial and occupational barriers effecting women’s choices in feeding options for their infant through survey and interviews and opportunities for occupational therapists to become more involved in the occupation of breastfeeding.

Data analysis for this capstone project consisted of running a needs assessment in Santa Barbara County. The needs assessment consisted of written or online surveys and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Of the 95 women who filled out the hard-copy or online survey, …

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 Rural Mother's Guide To Breastfeeding, Haley Tillett

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding is considered as the gold standard of infant health (CDC, n.d.). The benefits provided to both the baby and mother by breastfeeding are unmatched when compared to formula feeding. Recent studies have shown a disparity in rates of breastfeeding, primarily in rural areas. This may be due, in part, to the fact that mothers in rural areas may not have equal access to resources and support they need to successfully breastfeed due to geographic isolation. This guide will provide an overview of breastfeeding resources in rural communities with a focus on Kittitas Valley, Washington. Resources include but are not …

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex: A Narrative Inquiry Of Women's Experiences And Perceptions, Brandi Winchester

Online Theses and Dissertations

Background

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex is an idiopathic condition experienced by some breastfeeding women that is characterized by an abrupt experience of negative emotions or sensation prior to milk let-down. Many women struggle to make sense of the condition, and report barriers to communicating with others about their experiences and accessing support from healthcare providers. Dysphoric milk ejection reflex is often reported by women to impact self-efficacy and contribute to secondary psychological effects.

Research aim

Exploration of the experience of Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. Investigation of the impact of diagnosis on the sense of wellness and self-efficacy of affected mothers. …

The Effects Of Centering Pregnancy On Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding Among Women With Opioid Use Disorder, Francesca Mancuso, Vanessa Short, Phd, Mph

Phase 1

Introduction: Breastfeeding has been found to decrease severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), however, breastfeeding rates among women with opioid use disorder (OUD) are significantly lower than national averages. CenteringPregnancy, a group prenatal care model, increases exposure to education regarding breastfeeding, making it more likely that patients breastfeed in traditional populations.

Objective: This project’s purpose was to identify and understand current infant feeding attitudes among mothers with OUD and explore whether participation in the CenteringPregnancy “Breastfeeding Session” positively impacted knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding.

Methods: Data were collected from 12 women in treatment for OUD who participated in CenteringPregnancy. A …

Analyzing The Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Of Breastfeeding Women At Maternity Care Coalition, Angela Heysel, Conor Bradley, Naima Black, Galissa Jones

Phase 1

Introduction: Breastfeeding is essential for health and bonding within the mother-child dyad. Most guidelines, therefore, suggest women continue breastfeeding up to twelve months post-partum. Discrepancies in achieving this exist across zip codes and race in Philadelphia, despite high overall rates of breastfeeding. Our research goal is to understand these discrepancies and the relationship between attitudes and practices of breastfeeding Philadelphian women, in order to target them with breastfeeding resource.

Methods: General population data was collected via an online survey taken by residents of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, whereas the focus group survey was taken in-person by Maternity Care Coalition …

Analyzing The Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Of Breastfeeding Women At Maternity Care Coalition, Angela Heysel, Conor Bradley, Naima Black, Galissa Jones

Phase 1

Introduction: It is recommended that women breastfeed for twelve months because breastfeeding is an important part of infant development and maternal bonding. Research shows that despite high overall breastfeeding rates, discrepancies exist in breastfeeding rates across zip codes and race in Philadelphia. The research goal is to develop a community resource to promote breastfeeding in Philadelphia and to understand the impact race and zip code have on breastfeeding attitudes and practices.

Methods: Data was collected from residents of Philadelphia and neighboring counties through an online general population survey and focus group survey. Both surveys addressed demographics and the women’s attitudes …

Violent Conflict And Breastfeeding: The Case Of Iraq, Vidya Diwakar, Michael A. Malcolm, George Naufal

Economics & Finance Faculty Publications

Background: This study explores the relationship between armed conflict and breastfeeding practices of Iraqi mothers. To date, the relationship between violent conflict and breastfeeding is surprisingly understudied. Especially in the Middle East, which is conflict-prone and has a young population, research on war and household behavior is critical for promoting recovery and sustainable development. Methods: This study employs a unique pairing of the Iraq Body Count Database and the 2006 and 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys for Iraq. We use probit models to explore the association between armed conflict and several breastfeeding outcomes – whether a child was ever breastfed, …

Human Milk Omega-3 Fatty Acid Composition Is Associated With Infant Temperament, Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Adi Fish, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing evidence that omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty-acids (PUFAs) are important for the brain development in childhood and are necessary for an optimal health in adults. However, there have been no studies examining how the n-3 PUFA composition of human milk influences infant behavior or temperament. To fill this knowledge gap, 52 breastfeeding mothers provided milk samples at 3 months postpartum and completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ-R), a widely used parent-report measure of infant temperament. Milk was assessed for n-3 PUFAs and omega-6 (n-6) PUFAs using gas-liquid chromatography. The total fat and the ratio of n6/n-3 fatty acids …

Implementing A Community-Based Breastfeeding And Infant Support Tent At University Of Arkansas Athletic Events, Moranda Clark

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding is such an important role in a mother and baby’s relationship as it establishes a unique bond while also providing health benefits for both parties involved. Unfortunately, many women are discriminated against for trying to breastfeed in public and with little to no designated breastfeeding areas or sanitary places in such spaces; they are left with very few viable options. During the last year I have been completing an internship surrounding the subject of breastfeeding and have helped to implement a breastfeeding and infant support tent at University of Arkansas athletic events. My work has included extensive research, lactation …

Maternal And Infant Health Benefits Related To Infantile Feeding Methods, Michaela Wolford, Alexa Bouts, Carmen Lariccia, Cara Walden, Anh Dao Le, Andrew M. Roecker

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Human breast milk is known to provide the most complete nutrition to growing infants. There may be more gained from breastfeeding than simply nutritional fulfillment-recent research has uncovered benefits related to the development and health of infants. Breastfeeding has been shown to stimulate immune system development by exposing the infant to bacteria and antibodies from the mother. Breastfeeding may also benefit nursing mothers by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance as well as decreasing postpartum weight gain. In place of breastfeeding, formulas are able to provide an infant with necessary nutrition. Many infant formulas have been enriched with probiotics and …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome From Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Use During Pregnancy, Elizabeth Kramer, Maria Patnella, Rachel Bulko, Allie Harrison, Hannah Lamb, Manoranjan D'Souza

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a concern for infants born to mothers receiving treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) throughout the pregnancy. The risk of NAS associated with SSRI use during pregnancy varies with the specific SSRI that is used by the patient during pregnancy. Common symptoms of NAS include premature delivery, gastrointestinal disturbances, irritability, low birth weight, short length and lack of response to various stimuli. Neonates that present with these symptoms can be scored using either the Finnegan or Lipsitz scoring tools. Neonates experiencing NAS can be calmed or treated using nonpharmacologic methods such as swaddling, …

Examination Of Maternal Assets And Breast Milk Expression, Yeon K. Bai, Lauren Dinour

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The proportion of mothers in the workforce has increased over the past 40 years. Examination of factors associated with a working/student mother’s milk expression is needed to provide effective lactation support. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of maternal assets in the relationships between the theory constructs, intention, and behavior of breast milk expression. Using a cross-sectional design framed under the theory of planned behavior, all female personnel associated with a higher education institute in northern New Jersey were invited to participate in the online survey, Milk Expression on Campus. Attitude toward breast milk expression, subjective …

Metabolism During Pregnancy And Postpartum: How Does It Change And What Factors Influence It?, Kristin Yoho

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

PURPOSE: Pregnancy is a physically impactful process in a woman’s life. During this time, a woman will gain weight and research has shown that many women will retain some extra weight after delivery. Because of this, recovery in the postpartum period is pivotal to avoiding the implications of weight retention. The postpartum period is vastly understudied in both the research and medical communities and this gap between pregnancy and postpartum research needs to be bridged. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic changes from pregnancy to postpartum and to study how factors such as sleep and breastfeeding …

Is Breastfeeding Truly Best? Evolutionary, Physiological, & Cultural Factors That Shape Breastfeeding Practices, Emily J. Green 19

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Co-Use Of Tobacco And Marijuana During Pregnancy: Pathways To Externalizing Behavior Problems In Early Childhood., Stephanie A. Godleski, Shannon Shisler, Rina D. Eiden, Marilyn A. Huestis

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Use and co-use of tobacco and marijuana during pregnancy are associated with the development of social, cognitive, and behavioral problems for infants and children. However, less is known about the potential developmental impact of the use of tobacco and marijuana in tandem. The present study examined an etiological model for the development of externalizing behavior problems (EBP) in early childhood in a high risk sample (N = 247) of mother-infant dyads with prospective data from pregnancy to 36 months of child age. Co-use during pregnancy and continued maternal tobacco and marijuana use from infancy through early childhood were investigated. Although …

Baby's Best Start: Wic's Role In The Alleviation Of Childhood Obesity, Ashton Hutcheson

Public Health: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

In the past 50 years, obesity prevalence has risen to epidemic-like levels in the United States with an average of 25% of American children being classified as overweight or obese. Prevalence of obesity is significantly increased in socioeconomically disadvantaged income categories. This paper aims to discuss public health preventions/interventions that address childhood obesity such WIC, a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. It additionally aims to provide broad obesity-related research and begin to suggest preliminary answers to the question of why obesity is so prevalent as well as a brief overview of current treatment options for obesity-related diseases …

Breastfeeding In Public: Perceptions Of College Students In South Mississippi, Kaitlyn Sierra Kendall

Honors Theses

Breastfeeding rates have increased and declined throughout time. Perceptions of breastfeeding are mixed, with those finding it to be inappropriate and others finding it to be natural. The purpose in this study is to gain a better understanding of how college students in south Mississippi perceive breastfeeding. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale (IIFAS), a 17-item questionnaire aimed to explore an individual’s attitudes toward infant feeding. The Breastfeeding Behavior Questionnaire (BBQ) presented 12 scenarios of breastfeeding in public as a means to explore how participants would react to those encounters. Data was collected from 151 college students through an online …

Relationships Among Common Illness Symptoms And The Protective Effect Of Breastfeeding In Early Childhood In Mal-Ed: An Eight-Country Cohort Study, Stephanie A. Richard, Benjamin J. J. Mccormick, Jessica C. Seidman, Zeba Rasmussen, Margaret N. Kosek, Elizabeth T. Rogawski, William Petri, Anurahda Bose, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Ali Turab

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Children in low-income countries experience multiple illness symptoms in early childhood. Breastfeeding is protective against diarrhea and respiratory infections, and these illnesses are thought to be risk factors of one another, but these relationships have not been explored simultaneously. In the eight-site MAL-ED study, 1,731 infants were enrolled near birth and followed for 2 years. We collected symptoms and diet information through twice-weekly household visits. Poisson regression was used to determine if recent illness history was associated with incidence of diarrhea or acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI), accounting for exclusive breastfeeding. Recent diarrhea was associated with higher risk of incident …