The perspectives of mothers and clinicians on the information needs, information-seeking behavior, communication processes, and information resources of first-time breastfeeding Latina mothers.
详细信息
- 作者：Vargas ; Maryelena.
- 学历：Doctor
- 年：2008
- 导师：Bakken, Suzanne
- 毕业院校：Columbia University
- 专业：Health Sciences, Nursing.;Sociology, Public and Social Welfare.;Hispanic American Studies.
- ISBN：9780549515098
- CBH：3305270
- Country：USA
- 语种：English
- FileSize：16803174
- Pages：381
文摘
Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is recommended by major health organizations to promote the health of infants and mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding rates of Latinas at six months, however, are lower than those of White mothers, although Latinas initiate breastfeeding at a higher rate than do non-Latinas.;The primary aim of this descriptive, interpretative study was to explore first-time breast-feeding Latina mothers' met and unmet information needs, information-seeking behavior, communication processes, and resources used related to breast-feeding initiation, adherence, and weaning. The secondary aim examined these concepts from the perspective of clinicians. A convenience sample of 28 Latina mothers and 12 clinicians was recruited from the Ambulatory Care Network in the Washington Heights area of New York City. Data were collected through focus groups with mothers and in-depth clinician interviews as well as brief sociodemographic surveys. Thematic analysis was iterative and systematic.;Of the 28 mothers, 25 had major problems initiating breastfeeding, the most critical phase in which information needs must be met for breastfeeding to succeed. Significant unmet information needs included: anticipatory guidance on breastfeeding during the pregnancy, effective instruction on infant latching to the breast (especially in the presence of anatomical variation from the norm), and full understanding of the supply and demand principle. Mothers were discharged with little follow-up, with formula 'care packages,' and with insufficient information to continue breastfeeding. Thus, most mothers mix-fed and inappropriately weaned their infants during the first 1-2 weeks after delivery.;Although clinicians' and mothers' perspectives differed regarding mothers' information-seeking behavior, resources utilized and needed by mothers, supplementation and motivation to breastfeed, both mothers and clinicians identified hospital policies, including routine formula-feeding that discouraged breastfeeding, as an important factor in the success or failure of breastfeeding.;The findings of this study indicate that unmet information needs are only one factor in the low exclusivity and short duration of breastfeeding. Other factors include hospital policies, easy availability of formula, disparities between resources used and those preferred by mothers, and lack of breastfeeding as a community norm. Policy changes are needed to create hospital and community environments that facilitate exclusive breastfeeding for six months.