African American Breastfeeding Peer Support: All Moms Empowered to Nurse
Abstract
Background: Although breastfeeding is optimal infant nutrition, disparities in breastfeeding persist in the African American population. AMEN (Avondale Moms Empowered to Nurse) launched a Peer-to-Peer support group to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration in an under-resourced African American urban community with low breastfeeding rates.
Materials and Methods: A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)-guided project was developed in partnership with a neighborhood church. Using modified Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) peer counseling materials, Avondale neighborhood breastfeeding moms were trained and designated Breastfeeding Champions. Community organizations and partnering agencies helped recruit local mothers. Support groups included childcare, transportation, refreshments, and incentives, plus stipends for Champions. A mixed-methods approach captured participation, feeding intention and practices, and program evaluation using electronic data capture. After adding another neighborhood with low breastfeeding rates, AMEN was modified to “All Moms Empowered to Nurse.” Additional Champion moms were trained as Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Community Transformers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has met weekly by virtual platform.
Results: Since May 2017, 67 AMEN support meetings have included 158 participants, with average attendance of 10 (range 5–19) per meeting. In addition to 8 Champions, 110 moms have attended, including 24% expecting mothers. Additional attendees include 13 family support persons, 23 guest speakers, and 12 from community outreach programs. Qualitative feedback from participants has been uniformly positive. Breastfeeding initiation rates have increased 12% in the initial neighborhood.
Conclusions: Harnessing strength within the local community, Champion Breastfeeding Moms have successfully launched AMEN breastfeeding support groups in under-resourced African American urban neighborhoods, helping more mothers reach their breastfeeding goals.
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Copyright 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
History
Published online: 12 February 2021
Published in print: February 2021
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Authors' Contributions
J.L.W. was involved in the design and execution of the project and wrote the original version of the article through the final version. D.L., S.L., N.M., J.G., J.L., K.P., M.S., and L.R. served as AMEN Champion Moms and were instrumental in completing the study objectives. They participated in survey design, data collection, compilation of results, and interpretation and conclusions. All approved the final draft of the article. T.B. designed the data collection tools, analyzed the data, and edited the article.
Disclosure Statement
The authors do not have anything to disclose. The design of this project has been presented in poster format at AAP, ABM, and APHA meetings in 2018–2019.
Funding Information
The AMEN project has received funding from an American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) grant, the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the University of Cincinnati Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) program, and the Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Village Innovating Perinatal Service (VIPs) Cohort. REDCap is subsidized by CCTST's CTSA grant, 2UL1TR001425-05A.
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