Perinatal Nurses: Key to Increasing African American Breast-Feeding Rates

Authors

Karen Marie Robinson, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

3 p.

Publication Date

Winter 2016

Publisher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Source Publication

Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing

Source ISSN

0893-2190

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000147

Abstract

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants for at least the first 6 months of life. Despite women in the United States reaching national objectives for breast-feeding initiation (75%), racial disparities persist. According to the most recent data, 83% of white mothers initiated breast-feeding whereas only 66% African American mothers did so. Breast-feeding initiation may be amenable to perinatal nursing intervention. Breast-feeding may be a practice that helps bridge the racial divide in perinatal outcomes among African American families. Nurses have an essential role in embracing breast-feeding promotion and support to patients who are least likely to initiate.

Comments

Accepted version. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, Vol. 30 No. 1 (January/March 2016): 3-5. DOI. © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Robinson, Karen Marie, "Perinatal Nurses: Key to Increasing African American Breast-Feeding Rates" (2016). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 429.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/429