Promoting Breastfeeding Among Latina Women in a Community Pediatric Clinic

Latina women have higher rates of lactation initiation compared to other minority women in the United States, however, acculturation to the United States is associated with a gradual shift in breastfeeding exclusivity. This study aims to test the effect and acceptability of an intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes in a Latina population using a Spanish prenatal education course and bilingual postpartum lactation support for the first six months of life. Participants (N = 42) were randomly assigned to an intervention or standard-of-care group. The intervention group attended a prenatal course taught by a bilingual Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and received postpartum lactation support in-person and by tele-lactation. The control group received standard-of-care lactation support from their healthcare providers. Data on breastfeeding successes and challenges were collected up to six months postpartum. Participants receiving the intervention had a significantly higher intention to breastfeed scores than the standard-of-care group within one week after delivery (p = 0.0054). The study's findings showed good participation and acceptance of change from three to two classes. Lastly, the intervention group had significantly fewer days of formula exposure compared to the control group (p = 0.031). Prenatal and postnatal lactation education classes and support were well accepted by participants as reflected in higher Infant Feeding Intention scores among women in the intervention group compared to those receiving the standard of care. These results lay a foundation for larger studies on the effectiveness of both prenatal and postnatal lactation support interventions in the Latina population.