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Purpose:
Breastfeeding
rates
in
general
have
been
increasing
slowly
in
recent
years,
but
breastfeeding
duration
and
exclusivity
rates
have
remained
quite
low,
especially
among
minority
populations.
The
purpose
of
this
evaluation
was
to
test
whether
women
who
attend
a
breastfeeding
support
group
in
addition
to
receiving
case
management
services
(intervention
group)
have
higher
breastfeeding
exclusivity
and
duration
rates
when
compared
to
women
who
only
receive
standard
case
management
services
(control
group)
at
Maternal
and
Child
Health
Access.
Methods:
Data
were
collected
from
Maternal
and
Child
Health
Access’
Breastfeeding
Follow-up
Forms
and
Case
Management
Files,
2001-2005.
Demographics,
breastfeeding
outcomes
and
baby’s
age
at
introduction
of
solids
were
compared
between
the
intervention
and
control
groups.
Pearson
Chi
square
analysis
was
conducted
on
nominal
data
to
measure
levels
of
association.
Results:
The
two
groups
were
similar
in
demographic
characteristics:
age,
native
country,
time
in
the
U.S.,
primary
language
and
whether
the
woman
was
a
first-time
mother.
Breastfeeding
initiation
rates
were
comparable
between
the
intervention
and
control
groups
(98.2%
vs.
95%).
Exclusive
breastfeeding
was
higher
in
the
intervention
group
than
the
control
group
in
the
early
postpartum
period
(in-hospital)
(54.5%
vs.
35.2%)
and
at
6
months
(51.1%
vs.
15.4%).
Any
breastfeeding
at
6
months
(90%
vs.
59.1%)
and
12
months
(89.4%
vs.
42.1%)
was
higher
in
the
intervention
group
as
well.
The
introduction
of
solids
was
slightly
delayed
in
the
intervention
group
(5.23
months)
when
compared
to
the
control
group
(4.67
months).
The
mean
weaning
age
in
the
intervention
group
was
20.24
months.
Conclusions:
The
use
of
a
breastfeeding
support
group
is
a
useful
strategy
for
improving
exclusivity
and
duration
rates
among
women
receiving
services
at
MCHA.
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Introduction
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