Skip to main content
NUTRITION 2023 Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Back

Topical Area: Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition

Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition (II) (Poster Session)

(P18-010-23) Addressing Breastfeeding Disparities in New York State: Findings From a 2021 Qualitative Study

Sunday, July 23, 2023
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board 484

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Christine T. Bozlak, PhD, MPH

    Associate Professor
    University at Albany School of Public Health
    Rensselaer, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • LR

    Lindsay Ruland

    University at Albany School of Public Health Center for Public Health Continuing Education

  • BE

    Britnee Eskew

    University at Albany School of Public Health Center for Public Health Continuing Education

  • MS

    Maureen Spence

    New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention

  • BD

    Barbara A. Dennison, MD, FAAP

    New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention; University at Albany Health Policy, Management, and Behavior Department

Disclosure(s):
Christine T. Bozlak, PhD, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: The New York State (NYS) legislature mandated the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) develop a report describing barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding and identify potential strategies to increase breastfeeding and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in NY. This study supported the mandate to obtain expert input.

Methods: Data were collected between August – December 2021 from NY and national experts in breastfeeding. Using a qualitative research design, data from virtual key informant interviews (N=45) and a Qualtrics online survey (N=253) were analyzed.

Results: Study participants emphasized that breastfeeding disparities exist across multiple populations, including certain racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and more (LGBTQIA+) community, individuals working in certain employment sectors, and those living in specific geographic areas. Participants discussed barriers to both breastfeeding initiation and continuation, noting that these barriers differ. Participants provided specific recommendations to ensure that the healthcare sector, including lactation professionals, is providing culturally responsive lactation care, services, and support to increase breastfeeding success. Participants identified interventions needed in the workplace, community, and within personal networks to ensure individuals who wish to breastfeed are fully supported to meet their breastfeeding goals.

Conclusions: Study participants emphasized the need to take a social ecological approach in designing interventions to address breastfeeding disparities. Most recommendations provided by participants did not focus on the birthing individuals themselves; rather on their environments and settings, including their peers, family, employers, communities, and healthcare providers with whom they interact. This presentation will include specific recommendations to address breastfeeding disparities at both state and local levels, as well as the need to expand the discussion of breastfeeding disparities beyond race and ethnicity.

Funding Sources: The study was funded by NYSDOH through a Memorandum of Understanding (#00228).