A Peer Support Tool Kit to Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in African American Women
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Date
2023-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
This DNP quality improvement project aims to create a peer support tool kit based on identified gaps recognized in the organizational assessment to improve and increase the effectiveness of the outpatient lactation peer support group (PSG). The first phase of a longitudinal project is to use strategies to increase PSG attendance with the goal of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates in African American women (AAW). Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as breast milk only with no solids, water, or other liquids. The exclusive breastfeeding rates in postpartum (PP) patients was investigated over a one-month period. The toolkit includes the following evidenced based strategies to help increase PSG attendance: a breastfeeding support resource document (BSRD) listing local and national breastfeeding resources and support groups for all patients, an inclusive advertisement flyer, and microlearning sessions. As a result of the toolkit, 100% of the PP participants received a copy of the new BSRD during their discharge education. The marketing team was unable to coordinate a meeting with the student to discuss marketing strategies and the revision of the PSG advertisement flyer. The IBCLCs agreed to have the microlearning sessions implemented into the PSG. The project concluded that ensuring each pp patient receives a copy of the BSRD during discharge education, continuing to provide breastfeeding education, and the continued usage of the PSG tool kit would be effective strategies for increasing PSG attendance and, ultimately, exclusive breastfeeding rates. The next steps will include continuing to work with the marketing team to create more inclusive flyers and advertisement, use the peer support tool kit during less active sessions, continue ensuring each pp patient receives a copy of the BSRD before discharge, and have the women's health clinical manager continually monitor the month-to-month trends and percentages of the exclusive breastfeeding rates.
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Keywords
exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation, peer support, peer counseling, black, african american