Doula care supports near-universal breastfeeding initiation among diverse, low-income women

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Midwifery Womens Health
• Personal Author:
  Kozhimannil, Katy Backes ; Attanasio, Laura B. ; Hardeman, Rachel R. ; O’Brien, Michelle
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  In the United States breastfeeding initiation rates have risen in recent years. However, there are notable disparities by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity. Previous research has suggested that care from a doula (a trained professional who provides non-medical support during the perinatal period) may increase breastfeeding initiation. The goal of this study was to study whether doula support may be associated with breastfeeding initiation among low-income, diverse women.
  
  Methods
  
  We compared breastfeeding initiation rates (mean values and 95% confidence intervals) for 1,069 women who received doula care from Everyday Miracles, a Minnesota-based organization that employs a diverse group of certified doulas, to a state-based sample of Medicaid-covered women who gave birth in 2009 or 2010 and participated in the Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey (weighted n=51,721).
  
  Results
  
  Women who had doula-supported births had near-universal breastfeeding initiation (97.9%), compared with 80.8% of the general Medicaid population. Among African-American women, 92.7% of those with doula support initiated breastfeeding, compared with 70.3% of the general Medicaid population.
  
  Discussion
  
  These results suggest that access to culturally-appropriate doula care may facilitate higher rates of breastfeeding initiation. When supported in their non-medical needs by birth doulas, the diverse, low-income patients of midwives and other maternity care providers may have a greater likelihood of initiating breastfeeding and experiencing the maternal and infant health benefits associated with breastfeeding.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Black Or African American Breast Feeding Culture Doulas Female Humans Income Postnatal Care Poverty
• Source:
  J Midwifery Womens Health. 58(4):378-382.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  IU01DP003117-01/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; K12 HD055887/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; K12HD055887/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota
• Volume:
  58
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:cfcc7bfcd46ddb06c98eb6d5caa23b1df9cd876af5d750728e20ea85df9fcfd2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/29705/cdc_29705_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 102.10 KB ]