Factors That Influence Breastfeeding Initiation Among African American Women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine cultural and socioenvironmental factors that affect breastfeeding initiation among African American women.


DESIGN
Qualitative descriptive design and conventional content analysis.


SETTING
A large, inner-city, primary care center affiliated with a 500-bed children's hospital within a large, Northeastern U.S. city.


PARTICIPANTS
Participants were 34 U.S.-born African American mothers of healthy term infants 0 to 3 months of age.


METHODS
Six focus groups were conducted using a 16-question, scripted interview guide.


RESULTS
A number of complex factors that influenced breastfeeding initiation included certain cultural beliefs about sexuality, the influence of family and peer networks, information sources, intentions, and a variety of other barriers and facilitators.


CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that the decision to initiate breastfeeding is not solely determined by the woman within the African American community. Because this decision is contingent on multiple factors external to the woman, it is important to recognize the role that partners, grandmothers, communities, information sources, and health care providers/organizations play in women's decisions. Implementation of multilevel strategies is critical to increase breastfeeding initiation among African American mothers.
['Hinson|Tyonne D|TD|', 'Skinner|Asheley Cockrell|AC|', 'Lich|Kristen Hassmiller|KH|', 'Spatz|Diane L|DL|']
D000328:Adult D001741:African Americans D001942:Breast Feeding D003466:Cultural Characteristics D004777:Environment D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D008425:Maternal Behavior D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D014481:United States
breastfeeding initiation culture African American mothers barriers and facilitators qualitative research social environment