Lydia Furman

BACKGROUND Breastfeeding exclusively through 6 months, with addition of complementary foods and continued breastfeeding through 2 years is recommended by public health organizations for its many health benefits. However, refractory racial breastfeeding inequities persist, creating an urgent need to identify new ways of engaging and supporting breastfeeding among African American and Black (AA/B) women and families. OBJECTIVE To overcome this gap, we developed a mobile health application (MHealth app) designed to support breastfeeding for AA/B women and families by addressing root causes of racial inequities. METHODS We repurposed the 8-phase ADAPT-ITT framework to describe the stepwise process of MHealth app development using human centered design principles. In phases 1 (needs assessment) and 2 (decision) we identified need, features and content via community partner interviews and designed a high-fidelity wireframe prototype. In phases 3 (adaptation), 4 (production), 5 (topical experts) and 6 (integration), the clickable wireframe app prototype was evaluated and tested by end users including AA/B mothers, fathers/partners, lay and expert lactation providers using multiple modalities including cognitive walk-throughs, focus groups and structured interviews with responsive revision of the app. In phases 7 (training) and 8 (testing), the wireframe app prototype underwent a randomized controlled pilot (NCT06378320) with AA/B mothers. RESULTS A functional clickable prototype app to support breastfeeding for AA/B mothers and families was developed, iteratively revised with end user input and pilot tested. CONCLUSIONS In future research a fully functional app, with engagement features including texting, will undergo clinical trial for efficacy with respect to improving breastfeeding outcomes. CLINICALTRIAL NCT06378320

Background: Breastfeeding is a key public health priority with known racial inequities. Despite the well-described and far-reaching health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants, rates of breastfeeding initiation, continuation, and exclusivity lag meaningfully among African American and Black (AA/B) women compared with other racial and ethnic groups due in main to current and historical structural racism. Methods: The study objective was to assess the replicability of Breast for Success (BFS) on breastfeeding rates among home-visited low-income predominantly AA/B mothers. The BFS Excels a Second Time (BEST) trial was an observational study conducted at the Neighborhood Health Association, Toledo, OH, enrolling expectant women (June 2022–March 2023, followed to October 2023) participating in the Moms and Babies First (MBF) Community Health Worker (CHW)-led home visiting program. The exposure, BFS, includes 11 CHW-delivered breastfeeding-supportive modules, breastfeeding supplies, and a postnatal lactation visit. All MBF mothers received BFS; those who agreed to data sharing were BEST participants. The outcomes were breastfeeding initiation, and breastfeeding continuation, and exclusivity at 1 month. Results: The majority of participants were AA/B (48, 83%), had an income <200% poverty level (55, 95%), and were unmarried (57, 98%); mean age was 25.8 years (SD 5.5). Of the 58 participants, 57 (98%) initiated breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding at 1 month postpartum; 53 (91%) were exclusively breastfeeding at 1 month postpartum. Discussion: BFS piggybacks seamlessly onto CHW-led home-visiting curricula and increased breastfeeding rates among women at high risk for not breastfeeding. Public health programs can add BFS to fill a critical curricular and impact gap with respect to breastfeeding support.

Objectives: To describe the implementation of a successful two-week virtual breastfeeding elective for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic and characterize student demographics, objective knowledge, and perspectives on breastfeeding before and after the elective. Study Design: We adapted the Santa Rosa Kaiser Permanente Family Medicine breastfeeding residency curriculum to create a two-week virtual medical student elective using Kern’s six steps of curriculum development and a competency-based education framework. Educational components included self-paced modules, shadowing experiences, and group didactics. Objective knowledge was assessed with multiple-choice tests before and after the elective compared using a paired t -test. Reflective writing pieces were qualitatively analyzed using the six phases of thematic analysis developed by Braun and Clarke. Results: From 2020 to 2023, 40 medical students completed the elective. Breastfeeding knowledge increased significantly from the pre-test 72% (95% CI: 52–92%) to post-test 91% (95% CI: 81–100%) ( p < 0.001). Over 90% of students felt that learning objectives were met well or very well and agreed or strongly agreed that the elective increased their knowledge and confidence in providing anticipatory guidance to breastfeeding parents. Similar themes were shared across students’ reflective writing pieces, with nearly 30% ( n = 23) of the student essays addressing socio-cultural and racial differences in beliefs surrounding breastfeeding. Conclusion: A virtual breastfeeding curriculum for medical students is well-received by stakeholders (patients, lactation consultants, students, etc.) and improves breastfeeding knowledge and confidence. A virtual elective is an innovative and effective way to deliver breastfeeding education and can be used even when institutional breastfeeding or lactation support is unavailable.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended through age 6 months, and 24.9% of all U.S. mothers, but only 19.8% of African American or Black (AA/B) mothers, achieved this goal (2020). Smartphone technology, specifically short message service (SMS or texting), may provide a strategy to reach and engage AA/B women who otherwise face barriers related to racism in accessing breastfeeding resources. Unfortunately, few mobile health applications are designed for AA/B women. Methods: We created a culturally sensitive breastfeeding promotion and support text message library that begins at 28 weeks prenatally and continues through 10 weeks postpartum. We tested feasibility and acceptability with a proof-of-concept (POC) trial that enrolled 20 AA/B women, and we tested content and perceived usefulness with a pilot study that enrolled 28 AA/B women. Results: In the POC trial, 95% of participants received all messages, demonstrating feasibility, and none requested fewer or to stop messages, demonstrating acceptability. In the pilot, >85% of participants responded positively regarding the number and helpfulness of the texts received, and whether the information was needed. Using a validated measure for online content for parents, >70% of POC and pilot study participants found that the information was very relevant or relevant, completely understandable, taught them something new, and “will help me improve the health or well-being of my child.” Conclusion: A new breastfeeding-supportive text messaging program intended for AA/B mothers appears feasible, acceptable, informative, and relevant. This is the first breastfeeding text messaging application of which we are aware that is tailored for the AA/B population.

The present study determined whether behavioral economic demand analysis could characterize mothers' decision to exclusively breastfeed in the workplace. Females, aged between 18 and 50 who have given birth in the past three years, completed a novel demand task with hypothetical scenarios, in which they returned to work with a 2‐month‐old baby. Participants rated their likelihood of breastfeeding their baby at a workplace lactation room versus formula‐feeding their baby at their desk. The distance to the lactation room ranged from 10 s to 60 min. This assessment was conducted with and without hypothetical financial incentives for 6‐month exclusive breastfeeding. Primary dependent measures were demand intensity and change in demand elasticity, which could conceptually represent initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, respectively. Demand for breastfeeding was more intense and less elastic (i.e., more likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding) among mothers with an experience of 6‐month exclusive breastfeeding and under the condition with the financial incentives. The novel demand task can potentially provide a useful behavioral marker for quantifying mothers' decision to initiate and continue exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace, informing workplace policy regarding lactation rooms, identifying risk for early cessation, and developing and individualizing an intervention to assist mothers to exclusively breastfeed in the workplace.

Breastfeeding is the optimal nutrition for infants given the numerous health benefits that are conferred on mothers, infants, and society in a dose-dependent manner. However, low breastfeeding rates and racial breastfeeding inequities persist for the African American (AA) community due to historic structural racism. The issue is especially salient at the Rainbow Center for Women and Children, an urban health center in Cleveland, Ohio where approximately 90% of their mothers are AA, WIC-eligible, and publicly insured. Our study aims to elucidate factors contributing to breastfeeding practices and identify supports that could be added for women served at RCWC. The study was conducted within 2 cohorts both of exclusively AA women. Wave 1 of the study included AA mothers who exclusively breastfed, did mixed feeding, or exclusively formula fed. Wave 2 included expectant women at least considering breastfeeding. Breastfeeding attitudes of those who had exclusively breastfed or practiced mixed feeding were not significantly different than those of expectant participants planning to breastfeed; mean attitude scores, however, were in the “neutral” range. Participants endorsed many sources of support for their feeding choices, including the infant’s father, their own parents, and family. However, the data show that even when women feel personally supported in their feeding choices by their partner and family, if additional breastfeeding help is needed, they will benefit from help accessing available resources. Thus, lactation support that helps women achieve their own breastfeeding goals is optimal; customized care ultimately can move the needle on racial inequities in breastfeeding for our society.

We aimed to identify barriers to breastfeeding-compatible post-placental intrauterine devices (IUDs) for expectant predominantly non-Hispanic African-American women. This cross-sectional survey study, conducted at 3 Cleveland community partner locations, enrolled 119 expectant predominantly unmarried but partnered non-Hispanic African-American women. The survey assessed contraceptive, IUD-specific and breastfeeding attitudes and intentions. Survey responses were described with percentages and frequencies, and compared by feeding intention using 2-sided Chi-Square tests. Factor analysis with Varimax rotation identified 2 potential measures of reluctance to post-placental IUD acceptance. The relationship of factors scores to maternal characteristics was assessed. Feeding intention (breastfeeding versus not) was not related to perceived barriers to post-placental IUD receipt among expectant minority women. A “Personal Risks Reluctance” factor included low risk IUD events (migration and expulsion), misconceptions (delayed fertility return), menstrual changes and partner preference: a higher score was significantly associated with younger age group but no other maternal characteristics. A “Not Me Reasons” factor included provider and insurance barriers, and was not related to any maternal characteristics. Expectant minority women’s perceived barriers to post-placental IUDs are not related to prenatal feeding intentions. We identified two clinically relevant factors that appear to measure barriers to post-placental IUD acceptance.

Background Racial disparities persist with respect to breastfeeding. The use of health e-technology is increasing, with promise for a role in improving breastfeeding outcomes. Objective We undertook a scoping review of both individual breastfeeding apps and the literature on breastfeeding apps to map the available evidence on app-based breastfeeding support for African-American mothers. Design A systematic search of online databases identified 241 English language papers published on or before June 2020 that included e-technology in support of breastfeeding. We included those that (1) described individual human subjects research studies utilizing any research design, (2) described app-based breastfeeding support, and (3) could be pertinent for African-American mothers, and assessed for inclusion and relevance for this population. We also searched app stores for breastfeeding apps, and evaluated features with a rubric. Our aim was to identify if gaps exist relative to breastfeeding support for African-Americans. Results Of the 15 publications meeting inclusion criteria, 9 focused on app development, 4 examined user experience, and 3 examined breastfeeding outcomes with use of an app (one study overlapped categories). The percentage of African-American participants ranged from 100% (2 studies) to none (7 studies); 3 studies (20%) focused on African-American mothers’ breastfeeding experience. Of 77 apps that met inclusion criteria, just one was both breastfeeding-focused by content and targeted for African-Americans by picture predominance. Conclusions The quality of studies was generally high and many included African-American participants, but research focused on breastfeeding apps specifically for African-American mothers/parents is limited, creating a meaningful gap in the literature.