@article{TEXTUAL,
      recid = {11601},
      author = {Awosemusi, Yetunde and Keenan-Devlin, Lauren and Griffin  Martinez, Noelle and Yee, Lynn M. and Borders, Ann E. B.},
      title = {The role of clinic-based breastfeeding peer counseling on  breastfeeding rates among low-income patients},
      journal = {BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth},
      address = {2024-04-25},
      number = {TEXTUAL},
      abstract = {&lt;p&gt;Background: Despite the benefits of breastfeeding (BF),  rates remain lower than public health targets, particularly  among low-income Black populations. Community-based  breastfeeding peer counselor (BPC) programs have been shown  to increase BF. We sought to examine whether implementation  of a BPC program in an obstetric clinical setting serving  low-income patients was associated with improved BF  initiation and exclusivity.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: This is a  quasi-experimental time series study of pregnant and  postpartum patients receiving care before and after  implementation of a BPC program in a teaching hospital  affiliated prenatal clinic. The role of the BPC staff  included BF classes, prenatal counseling and postnatal  support, including in-hospital assistance and phone triage  after discharge. Records were reviewed at each of 3 time  points: immediately before the hire of the BPC staff  (2008), 1-year post-implementation (2009), and 5 years  post-implementation (2014). The primary outcomes were rates  of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity prior to  hospital discharge, secondary outcomes included whether  infants received all or mostly breastmilk during inpatient  admission and by 6 weeks post-delivery. Bivariable and  multivariable analyses were utilized as appropriate.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Results: Of 302 patients included, 52.3% identified as  non-Hispanic Black and 99% had Medicaid-funded prenatal  care. While there was no improvement in rates of BF  initiation, exclusive BF during the postpartum  hospitalization improved during the 3 distinct time points  examined, increasing from 13.7% in 2008 to 32% in 2014  (2009 aOR 2.48, 95%CI 1.13-5.43; 2014 aOR 1.82, 95%CI  1.24-2.65). This finding was driven by improved exclusive  BF for patients who identified as Black (9.4% in 2008,  22.9% in 2009, and 37.9% in 2014, p = 0.01).&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: Inpatient BF exclusivity significantly  increased with the tenure of a BPC program in a low-income  clinical setting. These findings demonstrate that a BPC  program can be a particularly effective method to address  BF disparities among low-income Black populations.&lt;/p&gt;},
      url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/11601},
}