An ecological approach to breastfeeding. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2002;27(3):154-61; quiz 162
Date
05/17/2002Pubmed ID
12015443DOI
10.1097/00005721-200205000-00005Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0345757572 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 38 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: Current numbers of breast-feeding mothers are well below Healthy People 2010 goals of 75% in the early postpartum period, 50% at 6 months, and 25% at 1 year. A promising line of research is the use of an ecological model for breastfeeding that includes factors traditionally examined in breastfeeding (mother/infant and family) as well as mesosystem and exosystem sources of influence on families (healthcare delivery system, community, and societal/cultural).
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted with 95 primiparous, postpartum women using closed and open-ended items. Content analysis was used with the transcribed comments from these telephone interviews, to test the fit of a preexisting ecological model for breastfeeding.
RESULTS: The comments of postpartum women provided a rich source of information about the many mother-infant, family, healthcare delivery system, community, and societal/cultural factors that influence breastfeeding. These all fit the ecological breast-feeding model proposed.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Efforts to improve rates of breastfeeding in this country to meet year 2010 goals must consider the many contextual factors that influence feeding. Interventions to promote breastfeeding should exceed the individual level, and occur at many layers simultaneously. The ecological model provides direction for the multiple interventions needed to increase rates and duration of breastfeeding.
Author List
Tiedje LB, Schiffman R, Omar M, Wright J, Buzzitta C, McCann A, Metzger SAuthor
Rachel Schiffman BS,MS,PhD Associate Dean for Research in the College of Nursing department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Breast FeedingEcology
Female
Health Care Surveys
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Surveys
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Models, Theoretical
Mother-Child Relations
Patient Education as Topic
Quality of Health Care
Social Support
United States
